Trump’s LeBron smear

US President Donald Trump sparked a row with basketball champ LeBron James at the weekend, unleashing a withering tweet that derided the intelligence of one of the US’s most prominent AfricanAmerican men.

He blasted James over an interview the former Cleveland Cavaliers NBA star did with CNN anchor Don Lemon, in which he deemed Mr Trump divisive.

“LeBron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon,” Mr Trump posted.

“He made LeBron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.”

The attack came as Mr Trump prepared to campaign in James’ home state of Ohio.

Although James has long been a Trump critic, calling the president “U bum” in a 2017 tweet, Mr Trump’s attack was his first on James, who has just opened a school for underprivileged children in his hometown of Akron.

Mr Trump also appeared to weigh in on the growing debate over who is the greatest NBA player of all time — James or Michael Jordan — writing, “I like Mike!”

But many former and current athletes, including Jordan, jumped to James’ defence.

“I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community,” Jordan said.

And US First Lady Melania Trump’s spokeswoman quickly distanced her from the criticism of James, saying it appeared James was “working to do good things on behalf of our next generation”. She said Mrs Trump would be open to visiting James’ new school.

James did the interview from the “I Promise” school he opened for at-risk kids. Every student receives free tuition, food, a uniform and a bike.

James told Lemon he “would never sit across” from Mr Trump, though he would talk to former president Barack Obama.