Trump mocks intelligence of James, reviving accusations of racism
President’s criticism of Lakers superstar and a black CNN broadcaster comes after he referred to Calif. lawmaker as ‘low IQ’
President Donald Trump faced renewed accusations of racism Saturday after mocking the intelligence of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and CNN broadcaster Don Lemon.
Trump took to Twitter late Friday night to bash Lemon after his interview Monday with James, and ended up slandering the celebrity athlete, too. In the interview, James reiterated his criticism of the president as racially insensitive.
“Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!” Trump posted, apparently in reference to former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.
Trump’s criticism of the intelligence of James and Lemon, who are both black, comes after he has repeatedly referred to Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., one of the most prominent African-American members of Congress and a fervent Trump critic, as being “an extraordinarily low IQ person.” The president’s attack on Waters as “low IQ” has become a staple of his political rallies, as recently as Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and it routinely gets cheers.
‘Who’s the real dummy?’
During his campaign and presidency, Trump frequently has used racially charged language, particularly in talking about Latino immigrants. He faced his strongest backlash nearly a year ago for not immediately condemning the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Va., during a march by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, equating them with anti-racism protesters who turned out.
Trump also has been outspoken in slamming black NFL players for kneeling during the playing of the national anthem as a protest of police brutality and racial injustice. His frequent comments on that topic have led some professional sports teams, such as the Golden State Warriors, to decline the traditional congratulatory White House visit after winning a championship.
Trump’s post about James drew immediate criticism on social media, particularly given that James was in the news last week for opening a school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, funded by his foundation. That school opening was the basis for Lemon’s CNN interview.
Lemon made that connection in responding to Trump’s attack, asking in a Twitter post Saturday morning, “Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages?”
Lemon, who did not address the president’s attack against himself, was referring to the Trump administration’s controversial “zero tolerance” policy of separating as many as 3,000 immigrant children from their parents as they crossed the southern border. Some of the children were held in cages. Under pressure, and a federal court order, Trump rescinded the policy, but hundreds of families remain apart.
United through sports
James has called Trump a “bum” on Twitter and campaigned for his Democratic opponent in 2016, Hillary Clinton.
In the CNN interview, James said he called Trump a bum because “he kinda used sports to kinda divide us. And that’s something that I can’t relate to because I know that sports was the first time I was around someone white.”
James said he has felt a need to respond to Trump’s attacks against NFL anthem protests and decisions by athletes to skip White House visits.
“I can’t sit back and say nothing,” James said.
Asked what he would say to Trump if they were to sit face to face, James responded, “I would never sit across from him.”
Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, James’ home state, who is frequently at odds with Trump, came to James’ defense Saturday. Instead of criticizing James, Kasich said on Twitter that “we should be celebrating him for his charity work and efforts to help kids.”
Jordan praises James
Melania Trump appeared to break sharply from her husband on Saturday, voicing support for James.
A spokeswoman for the first lady praised James for his work with children, adding that the president’s wife is open to visiting the school he founded.
“It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the first lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today,” the first lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement.
Grisham noted that the first lady’s “Be Best” initiative deals with encouraging children to conduct themselves in an honorable manner and the “importance of responsible online behavior.”
“Her platform centers around visiting organizations, hospitals and schools, and she would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron,” she added.
James’ “I Promise” school for at-risk kids offers free tuition, free food, a uniform and even a free bike and other forms of transportation.
The statement didn’t criticize the president.
Many former and current professional athletes, including Jordan, jumped to James’ defense.
“I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community,” Jordan said in a statement.
“Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!”
President Trump, on Twitter