Steve Kerr has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump over the last four years, and the Warriors coach didn't hold back when asked about the pro-Trump mob who stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
"I started the day thinking about how we were going to guard Lou Williams without fouling him and suddenly, that didn't seem quite as important when I turned the TV on as shootaround was beginning," Kerr told the media via a Zoom video call. "Just a bizarre scene, but a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters. We've been talking about this for years. The truth matters in our country and anywhere, in any circumstance because of the repercussions if we allow lies to spread. And if we enable people in power to lie, you all of a sudden have millions of people who are doubting an election that was certified in every state.
"We have seven to eight million more people vote for Biden than for Trump. Every state has certified those results. Every court appeal has been turned down. A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people who are leading our country in government, because we've decided over the last few years, to allow lies to be told. So, this is who we are. You reap what you sow."
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Kerr made the comments less than two hours before the Warriors' game against the Los Angeles Clippers. When asked if the players planned any sort of protest or demonstration prior to the game, Kerr said he would speak to the group to see if they wanted to express their feelings publicly.
On the day when Congress was set to count the electoral votes and affirm Joe Biden as President-elect of the United States, President Trump made a speech to his supporters and urged them to march to Capitol Hill. He told them he might join them, but ultimately returned to the White House.
Shortly after Congress adjourned to debate Arizona's electoral votes, pro-Trump supporters breached Capitol Police's perimeter and eventually made it inside the Capitol building, some scaling walls and breaking windows to gain entry.
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The pro-Trump mob made it into the Senate chambers and into the offices of several elected officials, including that of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's. It took several hours for authorities to clear the building.
While President Trump urged his supporters to leave the Capitol building and "go home," many have remained in the area, defying the 6 p.m. ET curfew set by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Kerr was the only member of the Warriors organization to speak to the media prior to the game, but Steph Curry and Eric Paschall were among the players to tweet their thoughts on what unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
In addition to the events that happened in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Kerr was asked about the impact athletes had on society, and specifically about the Senate run-off election that took place in Georgia on Tuesday. Reverend Raphael Warnock is projected to beat incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler, who is co-owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
"I'm really proud of so many people in sports," Kerr said. "I think the WNBA players are going to go down in history for their leadership in helping Raphael Warnock get elected by exposing some of Kelly Loeffler's misdeeds. They called attention to it and I think it played a big role in the election. There's no getting around that fact.
"I think it's amazing that athletes today, WNBA players, NBA players, athletes from all different sports are comfortable and confident in speaking their minds and trying to help create change in this country, in areas where they feel change is needed. It's very inspiring."
Kerr concluded his remarks on the political events of the last two days by taking a shot at the members of Congress who pushed for the objection of the electoral college count.
"I wish people like [Texas senator] Ted Cruz and [Florida senator] Marco Rubio and [Missouri senator] Josh Hawley had to do pregame media before they meet in Congress. It would be great for them to have to answer the question 'Are you happy now? You keep moving the line back or does this change anything? Or are you going to continue to enable?' Maybe they should do pregame media, maybe even an end of first quarter of the session interview while Congress is meeting. I would like that."