New York Liberty player Natasha Cloud made unsubstantiated claims that American taxpayers pay for free healthcare for Israeli citizens while weighing in on the current U.S. government shutdown on Tuesday, the two-year mark of the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel.

“Happy Tuesday. Our government is shut down because Republicans want to take hardworking Americans healthcare. ISRAEL has free healthcare. Paid for by none other than THE US TAX PAYERS. Like what tf are we actually talking about?” Cloud wrote on X.

But Cloud did not stop there. In a fiery continuation of her post, she turned her attention to American politics, accusing the Republican Party of “weaponizing power and politics at the expense of ordinary people.” Her critique came just days after the U.S. government went into another temporary shutdown due to budget disputes in Congress.

“While people can’t pay rent or get basic services, our so-called leaders are playing political chess,” she said. “Leadership has failed us — all of us. And the people who suffer the most are never the ones sitting in Congress.”

Known for her outspoken activism, Cloud has long used her platform to speak on issues beyond basketball. She was one of the most vocal players in the WNBA’s 2020 social justice movement, choosing to sit out that season to focus on community organizing and advocacy work following the murder of George Floyd.

Her latest remarks, however, delve into even more volatile territory — the intersection of international conflict and domestic politics. While some have praised her for “speaking truth to power,” others have accused her of overstepping her role as an athlete.

During a brief appearance on ESPN Radio, Cloud clarified that her comments were not partisan but a reflection of her frustration with political dysfunction in Washington. “I’m not here to push one side or another,” she explained.

“I’m here to say that when our government shuts down and people go unpaid, when foreign aid gets caught up in partisan battles, and when global crises unfold without empathy — that’s a failure of leadership across the board. We deserve better.”

Still, she singled out specific lawmakers who, in her view, “prioritize obstruction over progress,” noting that “certain members of the GOP are more focused on headlines than humanity.”

Israel has its own universal healthcare system funded by a national income tax and an income-related health tax paid by its residents. However, some U.S. aid does indirectly impact Israel’s healthcare sector, primarily through military aid and smaller, targeted grants for medical equipment.

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) during a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center.  (John Jones/Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ bid to reopen the government for a sixth time on Wednesday as pressure and threats from the White House increased. Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have made the fight to reopen the government about healthcare, specifically through the blunt instrument of expiring tax credits under Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Yet, Cloud’s decision to speak on the Israel–Hamas conflict also places her in the middle of one of the most divisive conversations in global politics. She emphasized that her condemnation of Hamas does not equate to blanket support for all of Israel’s actions, urging compassion for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

“You can stand against terrorism and still stand for human rights,” she said. “It’s not one or the other. It’s both.” This nuanced message has been both applauded and attacked online, with some accusing her of “moral equivalency” and others defending her for acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

Within the WNBA community, several players and coaches have voiced support for Cloud’s right to speak freely, even if they do not fully agree with her views. “Natasha has always been fearless about speaking her truth,” said one unnamed player.

“You don’t have to agree with everything she says to respect the fact that she’s trying to make people think.” Others, however, privately admit that her remarks have created tension in locker rooms and among fans who prefer the league remain focused on basketball during the Finals season.

Cloud’s comments also reflect a broader frustration felt by many Americans about the state of U.S. governance. With repeated budget standoffs, partisan gridlock, and public trust in institutions at historic lows, her words resonate beyond sports.

“We have veterans who can’t access benefits, families missing paychecks, and leaders pointing fingers instead of finding solutions,” she said. “If that’s not broken leadership, I don’t know what is.”

Despite the backlash, Cloud has shown no signs of backing down. In follow-up posts, she doubled down on her belief that athletes have both a platform and a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect everyday people. “If you’re uncomfortable, good,” she wrote.

“That means we’re talking about something real. I’ll never apologize for caring about people.” Her statement has since been shared thousands of times, sparking conversations about the intersection of sports, politics, and morality.

Cloud’s post garnered criticism and fact checking on social media.

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) is in the game against the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)

Cloud has garnered controversy over the last year for expressing left-leaning opinions on social media.

Cloud made several controversial posts following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the arrest of the alleged assassin Tyler Robinson last month. Cloud even deleted an X post that prompted backlash, in which she made presumptions about the alleged killer’s family’s political beliefs.

“So how y’all gone twist this? Raised in a good middle class family, dad was an officer/church leader, whole family of Republicans and gun owners [and] Trump supporters,” Cloud said in the deleted post.

Cloud left several other controversial posts remaining on her feed. One post made the unsubstantiated assertion that Robinson was a “far-right Republican.”

“Tyler Robinson and his parents were Republicans. FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS,” Cloud wrote.

Cloud also left a post on her feed that contained a racially-charged comment about Robinson and connected the assassination to recent threats against historically Black colleges and universities. The FBI, in a statement at the time, said it is “aware of hoax threat calls” to HBCUs.

“So why were y’all threatening HBCU’s when it was a 22-year-old white boy from Utah who shot Charlie? Racism. Not politics. Racism. Difference in policy is you giving tax cuts to billionaires. Y’all dumb but I digress. Your hatred for other people is not politics,” Cloud wrote.

In July, she made controversial comments about President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Cloud, who has been a vocal supporter of socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, praised the candidate while warning Trump against sending ICE to the city.

“Mamdani, my boy!” she told reporters after a New York Liberty practice.

“If Donny wants to come down here, if ICE wants to try and come down here, that’s fine.

“But [they’re] going to learn the hard way… New Yorkers really don’t f— around. They don’t play about one another. The don’t play about this city.”

Cloud went on to deliver a lengthy rant about her support for socialism and belief that Trump’s opposition is “getting to them.”

“I just think that it’s reckless of our president, reckless of this administration, but it’s also exciting for us, the people, because that’s when you know we’re getting to them,”

In June, she seemingly reacted to the U.S. military’s strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, writing on X, “A sad sad day,” and “Grounds for impeachment.”

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) reacts after making an assist in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Dream at Barclays Center. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)

In February, Cloud responded to President Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate several government DEI programs.

“The systems of power are working as they always were intended to work,” Cloud told The Associated Press. “And it’s time to break down a system that has only been about White men.”

Cloud and the Liberty’s season ended on Sept. 19 when they were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs in the first round against the Phoenix Mercury.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.

Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud has once again made headlines — not for her performance on the court, but for her outspoken stance on pressing global and political issues.

In a passionate social media post and subsequent interview, Cloud addressed the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel while also condemning what she described as “a failure of leadership” in the U.S. government, particularly criticizing Republican lawmakers for the recent government shutdown.

Her statements, equal parts emotional and pointed, have reignited debate about the role of athletes in political and humanitarian discussions.

Cloud began by unequivocally condemning the Hamas attacks, calling them “an act of terror that no one should defend.” She expressed heartbreak for the victims and families affected by the violence, noting that “innocent lives — Israeli and Palestinian — continue to pay the price for political agendas and extremist violence.”

Her comments, shared with her nearly 200,000 followers, struck a balance between mourning the victims and calling for a broader recognition of the humanitarian toll. “No one wins in war,” she wrote. “When children are dying, when families are torn apart, humanity is losing.”

Her stance has received a mixed reaction online. Supporters have flooded social media with praise for her courage, calling her “one of the few athletes willing to confront both global injustice and domestic irresponsibility.” Many fans point out that the WNBA has a long history of activism and that Cloud’s statements continue that tradition.

“She’s not afraid to say what others won’t,” one fan tweeted. “That’s what leadership looks like.” However, critics argue that her comments risk alienating fans who disagree politically or believe athletes should refrain from political commentary. “Stick to basketball,” one critic wrote, echoing a familiar refrain aimed at socially conscious athletes.

Political analysts and sports commentators have also weighed in, noting that Cloud’s comments reflect a growing trend of athletes as activists, especially within the WNBA

The league’s players have been among the most politically engaged in professional sports, often using their platforms to address racial justice, gender equality, and human rights issues. Cloud’s remarks, they say, highlight the evolving expectations of athletes — no longer confined to the court but seen as influential voices in public discourse.

As the dust settles, it’s clear that Cloud’s words have once again positioned her at the forefront of the athlete-activist movement. In an era where social media amplifies every voice, her decision to use hers for political commentary ensures that she will continue to be a lightning rod for debate. But for Cloud, that appears to be a role she embraces rather than avoids.

“I’m not afraid of criticism,” she said. “I’m afraid of silence. Because silence is what keeps us stuck.”

Whether one views her as a courageous truth-teller or a divisive figure, Natasha Cloud’s message is unmistakable: leadership — in government, in sport, and in society — must be accountable, compassionate, and courageous. Her words may not please everyone, but they demand attention. And in the WNBA star’s eyes, that’s exactly the point.