Tweeters erupted in anger after President Donald Trump trashed NBA superstar LeBron James on Friday night.
Trump used Twitter to bash both James and CNN host Don Lemon, after finally watching an interview between the pair that aired on Monday.
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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
During the interview, James (who in July signed with the Los Angeles Lakers) accused Trump of enabling racists and using sports to divide the country.
Though James didn’t reply directly to Trump, he sent out a tweet Saturday afternoon that suggested he was more focused on the school he’s opening than pettiness on Twitter:
Let’s get it kids!! Love you guys https://t.co/kY88geedus — LeBron James (@KingJames) August 4, 2018
Earlier in the day, Lemon had responded to Trump with this tweet:
Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest https://t.co/XO50qVksnR — Don Lemon (@donlemon) August 4, 2018
CNN Communications also replied, tweeting, “Sounds like @FLOTUS had the remote last night” ― a reference to a report that Melania Trump was watching CNN aboard Air Force One, apparently to her husband’s displeasure.
Sounds like @FLOTUS had the remote last night. 📺 We hope you both saw the incredible work of @KingJames. #BeBesthttps://t.co/3Ok0z9Z6Ro — CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 4, 2018
Many of James’ fellow NBA players rallied to support him:
So let me get this straight: Flint, MI has dirty water still, but you worried about an interview about a man doing good for education and generations of kids in his hometown? Shut your damn mouth! Stop using them twitter fingers and get stuff done for our country with that pen. https://t.co/sEkX3OKaJM — Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 4, 2018
I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment... https://t.co/zHjgokig8R — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018
A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better... im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it’s okay... forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018
And hundreds of Twitter users jumped to James’ defense ― with many highlighting how the basketball legend had this week opened a new school for at-risk children (a joint venture between Akron Public Schools and his foundation) in his hometown of Akron, Ohio:
NBA Twitter showing up for LeBron James to defend him against Trump like pic.twitter.com/PqLzu3MXo7 — Cameron Grant (@coolcam101) August 4, 2018
This week LeBron opened a school for hundreds of at-risk kids while Donald Trump's education secretary attempts to undo college loan forgiveness for students who were “knowingly deceived” by their schools and rolls back Obama-era guidelines on discrimination in schools. — TV's Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) August 4, 2018
LeBron James has done more good for this country in the last week as a basketball player than Trump has in a year and a half as President of the United States — Adam (@SixersAdam) August 4, 2018
If Michael Jordan joins twitter just to verbally smack down Trump for mentioning him in a tweet against LeBron James, the NBA should give MJ another ring. — Michael Tannenbaum (@iamTannenbaum) August 4, 2018
LeBron James wants to use sports to unite Americans.
Trump wants to use sports to divide Americans.
LeBron James just opened a school so kids can learn.
Trump has made it easier for kids to be shot at school.
LeBron James doesn’t have “small hands.”
Trump does. — Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) August 4, 2018
So Trump finally went at LeBron, huh? Shocked it took this long. Not shocked it happened during a week where LeBron literally opened a school for at-risk kids. — Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) August 4, 2018
Lebron’s school will make a more powerful and positive impact in more people’s than Trump could ever dream of. pic.twitter.com/fS4T9Z8qTe — jordan (@JordanUhl) August 4, 2018
LeBron puts children through school.
Trump puts children in cages. — Joseph Flynn (@ChinaJoeFlynn) August 4, 2018
Trump insulting LeBron the same week that he opened a school designed to support at-risk students is peak disgusting Trump. https://t.co/YRCjH05wd5 — Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) August 4, 2018
Now is a good time to re-watch LeBron James at the opening of a public school he funded to help under-privileged kids.pic.twitter.com/7AiF1eVKRb — Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) August 4, 2018
*LeBron James opens school for struggling families*
TRUMP: pic.twitter.com/fSqRXH9DEE — Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) August 4, 2018
Donald Trump is a terrible person who was born on third base but thinks he hit a triple.
LeBron James is a self-made legend and an even better human being.
Of course the President is jealous of the King. — Adam Best (@adamcbest) August 4, 2018
LeBron is everything Trump wishes he could be but isn't. A truly self-made man who was given nothing and gained everything, achieving the highest level of success solely through the merits of his talent and hard work, and who is respected, loved, and admired around the world. — Dustin Kent (@dustinjkent) August 4, 2018
RT if you’d much rather have LeBron James as president than Donald Trump. — Max Weiss (@maxthegirl) August 4, 2018
Trump has repeatedly singled out and attacked countless black athletes exclusively.
Ranging from Stephen Curry, LaVar Ball, LeBron James, and Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick, Marshawn Lynch and more.
Coincidence? Nah. — James Parkley 🇺🇸 (@jnarls) August 4, 2018
Dunno how every reply to this tweet isnt "U bum" https://t.co/dH0eKKQaC7 — Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) August 4, 2018
We got your back @KingJames 🙏🏾 Someone sure sound like they wish they was you. — Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) August 4, 2018
Who TF is Mike? Michael Jordan? If so, this officially makes Lebron the GOAT, right? https://t.co/QXoZth7k4p — Stephen Robbins (@YakimaAbogado) August 4, 2018
You know what’s interesting about Trump ripping LeBron now? For the first part of his presidency, LeBron lives in Ohio, which Trump needs. Now Bron lives in Cali, which Trump doesn’t need because he can’t win there. Thus, Trump rips LeBron for the first time tonight — Joe Vardon (@joevardon) August 4, 2018
Dear Bron, I wrote you but you still ain't call me...pic.twitter.com/Gcd4hMLqLf — Tristan (@AyoTristan) August 4, 2018
It's not just that the "President" of the United States began attacking LeBron James at midnight. It's that that he retweeted Hannity, retweeted a wrestling guy, said something about fire extinguishers, retweeted Drudge four times, and THEN attacked LeBron James at midnight. — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) August 4, 2018
"LeBron is the damn GOAT put some respect on his name you orange..." pic.twitter.com/teXLe4Xqz7 — Dilip Sridhar (@dilipsridhar16) August 4, 2018
Here’s Trump heaping praise on LeBron a few years ago, while spelling “Miami” wrong: https://t.co/16yZ2CWens — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) August 4, 2018
Imagine taking shots at LeBron after what he did this week. pic.twitter.com/h3yKvADXzy — Scott Cullen (@tsnscottcullen) August 4, 2018
LeBron living in the president's head rent free at midnight on a Friday. GOAT. — Sam (@simmonsclass) August 4, 2018
LeBron James hasn't responded to a shot about his intelligence from President Donald Trump, but Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and other fellow NBA players took to Twitter to defend him.
Trump took aim at James in a tweet on Friday night, days after an interview with CNN's Don Lemon aired in which the Los Angeles Lakers star said he felt that Trump was "using sports to kinda divide us."
"Sports has never been something that divides people," James told Lemon. "It's always been something that brings someone together."
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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
Trump also appeared to take sides in the LeBron vs. Jordan debate, saying, "I like Mike!"
Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, issued a statement Saturday backing James.
"I support LJ," Jordan said in the statement. "He's doing an amazing job for his community."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who was at the league's NBA Africa Game on Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa, also issued a statement to USA Today Sports in support of James.
"LeBron James is one of the all-time greatest NBA players and one of the most accomplished athletes," SIlver said in the statement. "He runs a very successful media company. He's sent hundreds of students to college and just opened a school in Akron where at-risk students will receive free tuition, meals and transportation.
"I greatly admire his intelligence and business acumen and have enormous respect and appreciation for what he does in his community."
Other players from around the league, including Golden State's Stephen Curry, Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns and Utah's Donovan Mitchell, came to James' defense on social media after Trump's tweet.
So let me get this straight: Flint, MI has dirty water still, but you worried about an interview about a man doing good for education and generations of kids in his hometown? Shut your damn mouth! Stop using them twitter fingers and get stuff done for our country with that pen. https://t.co/sEkX3OKaJM — Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 4, 2018
A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better... im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it's okay... forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018
I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment... https://t.co/zHjgokig8R — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said the franchise "could not be more proud to have LeBron James as part of our Lakers family" in a separate statement issued Saturday afternoon.
"He is an incredibly thoughtful and intelligent leader and clearly appreciates the power that sports has to unite communities and inspire the world to be a better place," Buss said in the statement. "Those efforts should be celebrated by all."
Lemon, who conducted the interview with James, also weighed in.
Who's the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest https://t.co/XO50qVksnR — Don Lemon (@donlemon) August 4, 2018
The LeBron James Family Foundation and the Akron (Ohio) Public Schools on Monday opened a new elementary school for at-risk children in his hometown.
The I Promise School is the culmination of nearly a decade of work by James' foundation, with its focus on educating children from challenging situations or backgrounds. The school will begin with two grades, third and fourth, with plans to expand in the coming years.
For those who complete the program, which has been operating for years, James has arranged for free tuition to the University of Akron starting in 2021. He also created a program for parents of the at-risk children to return to complete their high school educations, and he has planned an institute to help prepare high-school-age students for college.
In all, James and his foundation leaders hope that more than 1,200 children will pass through the program and into college by 2029.
First lady Melania Trump, in a statement issued Saturday by her spokesperson, would be open to visiting the I Promise School.
"It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation," the statement issued by Stephanie Grisham said, "and just as she always has, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today."
President Trump is traveling to Ohio on Saturday for a campaign rally.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
To the sporting world and largely beyond, he's King James, but to President Trump, LeBron James is no intellectual genius.
In a tweet, Trump took aim at two of his regular critics, James and cable TV news personality Don Lemon.
His tweet called Lemon the "the dumbest man on television," and then said Lemon "made LeBron look smart, which isn't easy to do."
Trump finished the tweet with "I like Mike!" an apparent reference to favoring NBA legend Michael Jordan in a comparison with James as perhaps the best NBA player ever.
James — who last month announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second time, this time to come to Los Angeles and play for the Lakers — gave an interview with Lemon on Monday, in large part to tout a new elementary school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick dissects the new-look Western Conference in which LeBron James now resides. USA TODAY
In a recent interview with CNN, LeBron James said he "would never sit across from" President Trump. (Photo: Phil Long, AP)
It seemed inevitable that President Donald Trump would weigh in on LeBron James' recent interview with CNN's Don Lemon.
After four days, Trump finally let loose in a Friday night tweet in which he bashed James and said Lemon's interview made the new Los Angeles Lakers star "look smart." The president also alluded to preferring Michael Jordan over James.
"Lebron (sic) James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon," Trump tweeted. "He made Lebron (sic) look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!"
James sat down with Lemon for the interview Monday after he cut the ribbon on his foundation's new I Promise School in his native Akron, Ohio. James spoke at length on the intersection of sports, culture and politics.
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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
James lamented Trump "using sports to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to."
"Sports has never been something that divides people. It’s always been something that brings someone together," he said.
LeBron James (@KingJames) says Trump's trying to use sport to divide people, but he believes it brings people together. He sits down with @donlemon at the opening of his new elementary school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Watch 10pET https://t.co/koTK4RarqEpic.twitter.com/CQYsTz2Fzl — CNN (@CNN) July 30, 2018
James' recent criticism of the president is not new. He has been an outspoken critic, famously calling Trump a "bum" after he rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors this past season.
However, it appears Trump did not always feel that way toward James. In what is now a seemingly regular occurrence, there's a tweet for that, as they say. In a post from May of 2013, Trump tweeted, "LeBron is a great player and a great guy!"
