Dwyane Wade is speaking out about the death of his cousin, Nykea Aldridge, and the media storm that followed

Dwyane Wade Says Donald Trump Used Cousin's Death as a 'Ploy for Political Gain'

Dwyane Wade is speaking out about the recent death of his cousin, who was gunned down on a South Side Chicago street last week, and the media storm that followed.

In a segment that aired Friday on Good Morning America, the 34-year-old NBA star spoke about his slain cousin, Nykea Aldridge, and a tweet presidential hopeful Donald Trump sent out about the woman’s death which, Wade said, left him “conflicted.”

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“On one hand, your cousin’s death is used as a ploy for political gain,” Wade told George Stephanopoulos. “I was grateful that it started a conversation, but on the other hand, it just [left] a bad taste in my mouth because of what my family is dealing with.”

Aldridge, a mother of four, was pushing a stroller down the street when several men began shooting at each other on Aug. 26, fatally injuring Aldridge in the process, CNN reported. Wade confirmed the death in a tweet that night. Two men have been charged in her murder.

Trump, 70, sent out a tweet just hours after news of the death broke, writing, “Dwyane Wade’s cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!”

The tweet sparked outrage with many social media users condemning the GOP nominee for the post and calling him an “absolute disgrace.”

(After social media outcry, Trump later extended his condolences to Wade and Aldridge’s family.)

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But Wade said Trump’s tweet was just another example of how his name made the death a national story.

“A lot of the things I’ve seen wasn’t even her name, and that hurt me to be the name that they talked about instead of talking about a mother of four,” he told Stephanopoulos who noted that reports identified the woman as “Dwyane Wade’s cousin.”

“That kind of hurt me and put me in a dark place for a few hours.”

He spoke out about the rampant gun violence in Chicago, saying that police in the city are “fighting a war.”

“They are … and they can do a lot better, but they can get more help as well to do better,” he said.

Dwyane Wade’s Cousin Killed While Walking Her Baby

The Chicago Bulls player noted the recent police involved shootings that have left African-American men and women dead have effected his family.

“My boys are afraid of police just the same way I was when I was growing up,” he said.