Trump performs ‘Tomahawk chop’ denounced as racist by Native Americans
- The former US president and his wife did the chopping motion with their right hands while supporting the Atlanta Braves in baseball’s World Series
- While a popular gesture among Braves fans, Native Americans have deplored it as a racist insult to their culture and heritage
Trump, who was booed when he attended a World Series game two years ago in Washington, joined thousands of Braves fans at Truist Park in Atlanta in making the chopping motion with his right arm before the team faced the Houston Astros in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship final.
Trump was seated in a suite near the right field line and was joined by his wife Melania in the cheer, which Native Americans have deplored as a racist insult to their culture and heritage, with some groups calling for it to be retired.
Racism targeting Native Americans hit home with MLB this year as the Cleveland Indians retired their nickname after years of complaints, and are now referred to as the Guardians.
But the “Tomahawk Chop” remains a popular gesture among sports fans.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred backed it in the last week, saying Native Americans in the Atlanta area are “fully supportive of the Braves’ programme, including the chop”.
