Dale Earnhardt, Jr., a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) driver who is not just the most popular driver in NASCAR’s top division, but one of the most popular people in the United States, talked about his own ancestors’ immigration story in response to the Donald Trump executive order banning people from several predominantly-Muslim Middle Eastern countries where Trump does not have business ties:
There is no way that I can understate this, but Donald Trump is attacking America’s identity by banning immigrants from this country based on national origin and religion. America’s identity has been shaped by immigration; in fact, nearly 100% of Americans are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants, with most Americans being descendants of people who came to this country over the past few centuries for one or more of many different reasons.
It’s rare for Dale Jr. to make statements that are political or may be seen as political, but he has done so in the past. During the debate over displaying the Confederate flag on the grounds of the South Carolina State House, Dale Jr. publicly called for the flag to removed from the grounds of the South Carolina State Capitol:
"I think it's offensive to an entire race," Earnhardt said. "It does nothing for anybody to be there flying, so I don't see any reason. It belongs in the history books and that's about it."
While Dale Jr. did not directly criticize Trump over his Muslim ban, he does recognize the reality that America’s true identity is that of a nation of immigrants.