Trump accused of copying Obama's tribute to Kobe Bryant that he had posted earlier: 'It's remarkably similar'
President Donald Trump's tribute to Kobe Bryant on Sunday was met with criticism online after social media users pointed out glaring similarities between his tweet and the one former President Barack Obama had posted a couple of hours earlier.
"Kobe Bryant, despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, was just getting started in life. He loved his family so much, and had such strong passion for the future. The loss of his beautiful daughter, Gianna, makes this moment even more devastating," Trump tweeted on Sunday.
"Melania and I send our warmest condolences to Vanessa and the wonderful Bryant family. May God be with you all!" he added in a follow-up tweet.
However, Twitterati was not appreciative of Trump's response, saying the structure clearly mirrored that of Obama's tribute that was posted almost two hours before Trump's, Business Insider reports.
"Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day," Obama wrote.
"Trump's tweet about Kobe is remarkably similar to Obama's," Vox journalist Aaron Rupar noted. "Trump's Instagram post on Kobe Bryant is worded in an extremely similar way to Obama's earlier tweet," Business Insider's John Haltiwanger tweeted in the meanwhile.
The same tribute was shared by the president on both Instagram and Twitter.
That said, Trump's initial tribute, which was posted three hours before his second, was deemed "opportunistic" by his critics. "Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!" he tweeted.
Despite the president's expression of concern, anti-Trumpers online accused him of trying to score points by exploiting public sentiment. "Kobe hated you," one wrote, while another added, "You don't respect Black athletes. Keep Kobe's name out of your ... mouth."
In a bid to slam Trump, a number of Twitter users shared a link to one of Bryant's tweets from 2017 that were critical of the president.
"A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly 'Make America Great Again'," Bryant said at the time.