Trump dunks on LeBron James
Ahead of campaigning in Ohio yesterday, President Donald Trump unleashed a withering attack on the state’s favorite son, savaging NBA star LeBron James in a late-night tweet that derided the intelligence of one of the nation’s most prominent AfricanAmerican men.
Melania Trump’s spokeswoman quickly distanced the first lady from the criticism of James, saying in a statement that it appeared James was ‘‘working to do good things on behalf of our next generation’’ and that the first lady would be open to visiting his new school for at-risk children. The statement didn’t criticise the president.
Trump blasted James earlier after an interview aired with CNN anchor Don Lemon in which he deemed Trump divisive. Although James has long been a Trump critic, calling the president ‘‘U bum’’ in a 2017 tweet, the tweet was Trump’s first attack on the player, who just opened up a school for underprivileged children in his hometown of Akron.
The tweet came hours before Trump travelled to Columbus, Ohio, for a rally north of town in support of the Republican in a special US House election on Wednesday. Once in Ohio, however, Trump stayed away from the controversy and never mentioned James as he hammered away at Democrats and other favorite targets.
‘‘Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon,’’ Trump had posted. ‘‘He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.’’
Trump then, unexpectedly, appeared to weigh in on the growing debate over who is the greatest NBA player of all time, James or Michael Jordan, by writing ‘‘I like Mike!’’
Many former and current professional athletes, including Jordan, jumped to James’ defence.
‘‘I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community,’’ Jordan said in a statement to The Associated Press through his representative.
Trump has long denounced the media – CNN in particular – and rarely lets a slight go unnoticed. But the attack on James, who was being interviewed by another black man, to some resembled a racial dog whistle. He routinely deems Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California, who is also black, as ‘‘low IQ’’ – an insult he repeated during the Ohio rally yesterday.
Ohio Governor Josh Kasich, a Republican who at times criticises Trump, tweeted: ‘‘Rather than criticising @KingJames, we should be celebrating him for his charity work and efforts to help kids.’’
Trump has repeatedly been questioned about his views on race, from deeming many Mexican immigrants ‘‘rapists’’ during his campaign kickoff speech for the Republican presidential nomination to placing blame on ‘‘both sides’’ for the violent clash between white supremacists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, a year ago. -AP