Trump rips LeBron James’ smarts hours before rally

BRIDGEWATER: Ahead of campaigning in Ohio on Saturday, President Donald Trump unleashed a withering attack on the state’s favourite son, savaging NBA star LeBron James in a late-night tweet that derided the intelligence of one of the nation’s most prominent African-American men.

Melania Trump’s spokeswoman quickly distanced the first lady from the criticism of James, saying on Saturday afternoon 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.

Mr Trump blasted James after an interview aired with CNN anchor Don Lemon in which he deemed Mr Trump divisive. Although James has long been a critic of Mr Trump, calling the president “U bum’’ in a 2017 tweet, the tweet was Mr 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 Mr Trump travelled to Columbus, Ohio, for a rally north of town in support of the Republican in a special US House election tomorrow. Once in Ohio, however, Mr Trump stayed away from the controversy and never mentioned James as he hammered away at Democrats and other favourite targets.

“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.’’

Mr 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.

Mr 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 on Saturday night. Ohio Gov Josh Kasich, a Republican who at times criticises Mr Trump, tweeted: “Rather than criticising King James, we should be celebrating him for his charity work and efforts to help kids.”

Mr 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.

James, who campaigned for Mr Trump’s opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and has not been shy about using his celebrity for social causes, did the interview from the public school he opened, called the “I Promise’’ school. Every student receives free tuition, as well as free food, a uniform and even a free bike.

In the interview, James said he “would never sit across’’ from Mr Trump, though he would talk to former President Barack Obama. Early on Saturday afternoon, James retweeted a post from the “I Promise’’ school and said: “Let’s get it kids!! Love you guys.”

Lemon responded to the president, invoking both the administration’s forcedfamily-separations policy and Mr Trump’s social media etiquette campaign. “Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest’’, Lemon tweeted.