San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama may be from France, but he’s got more than a few thoughts about life in the United States – and he wasn’t shy about sharing them during a Monday interview at Spurs Media Day.
Wembanyama, 22, was born and raised in Le Chesnay, a suburb just west of Paris. When asked by a French journalist about life in the United States and the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, he said that he feels fortunate to live in the U.S. as a professional athlete. However, he acknowledged that that he sees challenges facing everyday Americans.
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“I think I’m very lucky to be able to live here as an athlete,” he said. “I think it’s a country where life is difficult for the average citizen, and there are many things that are beyond my understanding,” he added.”
He also noted that even though he is a French citizen and can’t vote in U.S. elections, he’ll still be affected by the nation’s political climate.
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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama poses for official photos during the NBA basketball team’s media day at the Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News)
“I don’t always feel like it’s easy to live here and have an impact on the big things in everyday life,” he said. “I’ll probably be affected, but unfortunately, I can’t directly impact it. I’m not American.”
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Although Wembanyama has not directly stated his political affiliations, he recently spoke out against the ICE shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens, amid unrest over federal immigration enforcement tactics.
“PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct (answer),” he told reporters earlier this year, according to ESPN. “Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or make it sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
He also seems to appreciate classic works that explore politics, power and society. When asked about Wembanyama’s favorite book, Spurs power forward Harrison Barnes first guessed “something French” before recalling two George Orwell classics: “He liked ‘1984’ and he liked ‘Animal Farm,'” Barnes said.
The midterms are scheduled for Nov. 3, with all 435 U.S. House seats and roughly one-third of the Senate up for election. The deadline to register to vote in this election falls on Oct. 5, for Texans.
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This article originally published at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama gets candid about life in America ahead of midterms.
