US First Lady, celebs, NBA players, defend LeBron vs Trump’s insults
United States First Lady Melania Trump, celebrities, NBA players and even media men came in defense of LeBron James against insulting statements from American President Donald Trump.
Melania Trump said, The Guardian reported from New York and New Orleans, “James appeared to be doing ‘good things’ on behalf of our next generation.”
The First Lady, even added she’s open to visiting LeBron’s new public school the NBA star called “I Promise,” the day after her husband questioned the Los Angeles Lakers player’s intelligence.
President Trump insulted James on Friday night hours after CNN re-aired an interview with the basketball player and reporter Don Lemon. “Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon,” Trump said. “He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.”
Many, including professional athletes and the Republican governor of Ohio, also came critical of Trump’s statements.
KING JAMES VS PRESIDENT TRUMP NBA superstar LeBron James ribbles the ball during a game. US President Donald Trump sniped back at NBA great James late on August 3, days after the basketball player and philanthropist accused him of fueling racial divides in the United States. AFP PHOTO
On Saturday afternoon, Melania Trump also issued a surprising, positive statement about James, but did not reference her husband.
“It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation,” she said even as she has always done, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today.”
A separate statement coming from her spokeswoman said: “As you know, Mrs. Trump has traveled the country and the world talking to children about their well-being, healthy living, and the importance of responsible online behavior with her Be Best initiative. Her platform centers around visiting organizations, hospitals and schools, and she would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron.”
Retired NBA player Michael Jordan, who the American Chief Executive Donald Trump mentioned in the tweet – ending with “I like Mike!” – Jordan. Likewise, reacted in favor of LeBron.
“I support LJ,” Jordan said in a statement. “He’s doing an amazing job for his community.”
James, one of the most prominent athletes in the US, has been critical of Trump for years.
In September 2017, James called Trump a “bum” for rescinding his invitation to the Golden State Warriors to celebrate their basketball championship with a visit to the White House.
“Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!” James tweeted at the time.
In February, James explained why he was critical of the president: “While we cannot change what comes out of that man’s mouth, we can continue to alert the people that watch us, that listen to us, that this is not the way.”
And in an interview with CNN this week, James told Lemon that Trump was “trying to divide our sport, but at the end of the day, sport is the reason why we all come together”.
When Lemon asked: “What would you say to the President if he was sitting right here?” James said: “I would never sit across from him.”
Trump’s tweet on Friday night drew accusations of racism because Lemon and James are black men and had been discussing Trump’s previous attacks on black athletes in the interview.
Representative Tim Ryan, a Democrat who represents James’s hometown’s district, said: “I think it reveals and continues to reveal that president Trump race baits.”
The sports commentator Bill Simmons tweeted: “LeBron is a smart dude (and one of the most thoughtful athletes we have) – this is a bullshit tweet and feels more than a little racist.”
James, meanwhile, did not join what is turning out a verbal war and instead on Saturday morning shared photos from the school he just opened.
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