US President Donald Trump has called on NASCAR’s only black driver, Bubba Wallace, to apologise after a wave of criticism following the discovery of a noose in his garage.
Ahead of last month’s NASCAR race, a wave of criticism of racism in the US’s elite auto racing series was sparked after a noose was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage.

The incident sparked outrage as news of the noose broke amid nationwide protests over social injustice and racism.
Dozens of Wallace’s fellow drivers staged a protest against the act, drawing attention from the world of sports. However, an FBI investigation found that the rope – described as a hangman’s noose – had been hanging in the garage months before the June 23 race at the Alabama track. 

Organizers, drivers and fans back Wallace after hangman’s noose discovery

AFP

Shortly after the FBI report, President Trump tweeted on July 6: “@BubbaWallace should apologize to all the great NASCAR drivers and officials who came to his aid, supported him, and were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out the whole thing was a HOAX?” The hangman’s noose discovery came shortly after Wallace successfully lobbied for a ban on the controversial Confederate flag (a symbol of slavery) in NASCAR.

President Trump added that the controversy surrounding the noose was perhaps the worst he has ever seen after he received criticism for fueling racism. Last week, Trump – who is running for re-election against Democratic rival Joe Biden – shared a video of his supporters chanting “white power” – before deleting it amid backlash.

NASCAR president Steve Phelps insisted that after the investigation was over “the noose is real” and “our initial response was to protect our drivers”. The US has been rocked by protests against racism and police brutality since the killing of African-American man George Floyd in May, some of which have led to violence, looting and other incidents.