Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl wasn’t happy when former President Barack Obama chimed in on the Gaza food emergency this week.
Pearl pointed the finger at the former commander-in-chief for causing the crisis.
“While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel’s military operations,” Mr. Obama posted on X, linking to an opinion piece by humanitarian chef Jose Andres, “these articles underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation.”
The critique of Israel was enough to rile Pearl.
“You gave billions to Iran and Hamas creating this mess and not one word from you calling for THEM to release the hostages, surrender and end the War,” Pearl posted. “Tell Hamas to 1) Quit stealing and reselling aid; 2) Stop attacking [Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ] workers who are feeding Gazans; 3) Leave and end suffering.”
The activism is nothing new for Pearl, who became the first president of the Jewish Coaches Association in 2005. His social media feeds have been filled with support for Israel and criticism of Iran and Hamas in recent months.
The most recent comments drew mixed reactions. Some applauded the outspoken coach for taking a stand, while others urged him to “stick to basketball.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.