President Donald Trump took aim at NBA superstar LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon via Twitter on Friday night.
Trump insulted both men’s intelligence with the following post:
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
“Lebron (sic) James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon,” wrote Trump. “He made Lebron (sic) look smart, which isn’t easy to do.”
“I like Mike!” Trump added, in apparent reference to former NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Lemon hit back early Saturday, with this post:
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
Trump’s tweet appeared to be in reaction to Lemon’s interview with James, which actually aired on Monday night.
Check out the interview here:
″(Trump) kinda used sports to kinda divide us,” James told Lemon in their sitdown. “And that’s something that I can’t relate to because I know that sport was the first time I was around someone white.”
James, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in July, also accused Trump of enabling racists. “The president in charge now has given people, they don’t care now ― they throw it in your face now,” he said. Last year, James called Trump a “bum” for uninviting Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry to the White House.
Lemon, meanwhile, used his “CNN Tonight” show last Friday to say that Trump’s presidency “can be defined by lies.”
Also on Monday, James opened the I Promise School for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The establishment is a joint venture between his foundation and Akron Public Schools.
President Trump responded by Twitter on Friday night to a CNN anchor's recent interview with an NBA superstar.
"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 tweeted.
The CNN anchor, Don Lemon, interviewed LeBron James, the former Cleveland Cavaliers star who recently signed a massive contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the end of his message, the president seemed to be expressing his preference for Michael Jordan, the NBA legend who retired in 2003.
During their interview, James and Lemon toured "I Promise," a school for at-risk children that James has established in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The pair discussed sports, politics and race relations.
Trump seemed to take issue with some of James' comments.
James told Lemon he believes the president is using sports to divide people, while James believes sports has "always been something that brings someone together."
When Lemon pressed James if he would consider running for president, he eventually said, "Let's see first."
Previously, CNN aired a segment in which the three-time NBA champion was asked whether he’d sit down with Trump, who James once called a “bum” for disinviting Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry from the White House.
“I would never sit across from him," James said about Trump.
Trump hasn't always had a negative opinion of James. In a 2013 tweet, Trump wrote, "Lebron is a great player and a great guy!"
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this story.
LeBron James is one of the greatest pro basketball players in history. He's also using his tremendous success and wealth to help at-risk children in his hometown. And yet, in Donald Trump's eyes, he's "dumb."
Trump resorted to childish name-calling in a Friday evening tweet in which he slammed the intelligence of both James and CNN anchor Don Lemon. The attack was responding to an interview in which James had some mildly critical things to say about the thin-skinned U.S. president.
"What I've noticed over the past few months [is] he's kinda used sports to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to," James said during the interview. "I can't sit back and say nothing."
Asked later what he'd say if he ever found himself face-to-face with Trump, he replied: "I would never sit across from him."
Most of the interview focused on other matters, particularly James's efforts in Ohio to create an elementary school with an eye toward helping kids get their lives on track. You know, actual humanitarian work.
The jitters before the first day of school are real right now!!! Tomorrow is going to be one of the greatest moments (if not the greatest) of my life when we open the #IPROMISE School. This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams... https://t.co/PwmRaHRfng — LeBron James (@KingJames) July 29, 2018
That's not what the U.S. president saw, of course. He just picked up on the fact that someone — a successful black man, no less — dared to criticize his demonstrably true practice of using professional sports to divide Americans.
And so, a miffed Trump fired back.
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
(The "I like Mike!" comment is meant as a knock on James, who is often mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan as the NBA's greatest of all time. That one probably didn't land as intended. James has historically shown great reverence toward Jordan.)
There's nothing substantive about Trump's tweet. Not one word or follow-up that takes issue with anything either man has actually said. It's just a pointless, aimless ad hominem attack and, as many pointed out on social media, a thinly veiled racist remark.
In Trump's World:
Obama: Kenyan
LeBron James: dumb
Don Lemon: dumb
Maxine Waters: low IQ
black countries: shitholes
black athletes: SOBs
Black tenants: unwelcome
Black workers: lazy
Central Park 5: guilty
Mexicans: rapists
Muslims: terrorists
Indians: fake
Nazis: very fine people — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 4, 2018
On Trump and that horrific, tasteless, elementary ass corny AF tweet about Don Lemon and Lebron James:
Trump has 3 modes of attack. Racism, sexism and then straight up lying. What he said about these two men is steeped in racist rhetoric about the intelligence of black people. — Christina Coleman (@ChrissyCole) August 4, 2018
Lebron is one of the all time greatest NBA players, who came from nothing and is giving everything to provide free education for low income kids. He spoke eloquently about how it hurts him to see Trump use sports to divide us. And, then the president calls him "dumb." Painful. — Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) August 4, 2018
LeBron James opens a school for underprivileged kids and Donald Trump calls him ‘dumb’?? He’s putting them in college, Trump’s putting them in cages... I think we know who the dumb motherfucker is... #SaturdayMorning — Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) August 4, 2018
Whether it’s LeBron James or Oprah Winfrey, Trump can’t seem to stomach benevolent black billionaires... Perhaps it’s because they didn’t inherit their money, actually worked hard to earn their fortunes and went on to open schools that weren’t pyramid schemes... #SaturdayMorning — Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) August 4, 2018
Re: that Trump tweet. That angers me beyond belief. I don’t want my future kids growing up in a world where two Black men, accomplished in their field, are called dumb because they disagree with your views. LeBron should be commended this week for his actions, not insulted. — Matt Barnes (@Matt_NBC4) August 4, 2018
And of course, no cycle of Trump shade is complete without Pete Souza, the former White House photographer for President Barack Obama, weighing in with a deep cut from his archives.
There was also this exceedingly spicy take from CNN PR.
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
Not to be outdone, First Lady Melania Trump praised James and his work to help the children in a statement, even going so far as saying she "would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron."
Oh boy. After President Trump insulted LeBron James, Melania Trump issues a statement saying she’s open to visiting the school he just opened in Ohio. pic.twitter.com/t0eJ4oDrxq — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 4, 2018
UPDATED Aug. 4, 2018, 7:20 p.m. ET with Melania Trump's statement.
President Trump labeled CNN's Dom Lemon as the 'dumbest man on television' after his interview with LeBron James in a bizarre tweet that ended, 'I like Mike!'
'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 on Friday evening.
The Commander-in-chief was referring to an interview on Monday in which the NBA legend opened up to Lemon about how he felt Trump had used sport to exacerbate US racial tensions.
The Commander-in-chief's Friday tweet was referring to an interview on Monday in which the NBA legend opened up to Lemon about how heblamed Trump for stoking division
The Cleveland Cavaliers star has repeatedly clashed with the President, and on Monday said he would refuse to ever sit face to face with him.
James is considered by many to be the greatest player in basketball history, rivaled by Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
The debate over who is better has raged on for years and has passionate supporters arguing each side.
That suggests Trump was referring to Jordan at the end of his tweet. A 1990s Gatorade commercial opens with the slogan 'Be like Mike'.
On Monday, James spoke at lengths about the President, race and politics in a wide-ranging interview which aired just hours after opening his new I Promise School in Akron, Ohio.
His commitment to children that were falling behind in school, vowing to use the new school to help them not only catch up with their peers, but to excel, was put in direct contrast to several Trump government policies seen to disadvantage young people as social media users erupted over the President's tweet.
Host Don Lemon questioned Trump's right to slam the basketball legend considering his recent good deeds and Trump's recent controversies
Many tweeted both about separating children from their parents at the border, and of changes to how college students are treated and how their education is paid for.
'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,' Harrison Faigen, an NBA writer, posted.
'LeBron puts children through school. Trump puts children in cages,' his colleague Joseph Flynn wrote.
Others chose to point out Trump seemed to have little issue with white athletes, and had also publicly slammed Stephen Curry, LaVar Ball, Colin Kaepernick, and Marshawn Lynch.
'Trump has only called Don Lemon & Lebron James “dumb” and he repeatedly refers to Maxine Waters as “low IQ”,' one man wrote.
'Pop quiz - Besides all being smarter & better in every way than he is, what else do they have in common?
'A) Donald Trump. Is. A. Racist. Pig.'
Some also speculated Trump's attack came as LeBron had moved to California, which is not a swing state like Ohio, where he previously lived, unscathed by the President's wrath.
In 2013, Trump said LeBron was 'a great player and a great guy'.
Even POTUS' supporters found the tweet to be in bad taste. 'I support you but this is unacceptable, you need to apologize immediately,' wrote Wesley Cantrell.
The Commander-in-chief was referring to an interview on Monday in which the NBA legend opened up to Lemon about how he felt Trump had exacerbated US racial tensions
The Cleveland Cavaliers star has repeatedly clashed with the President (pictured leaving Air Force One for a rally in Pennsylvania on Thursday)
In his interview with Lemon, LeBron described how both athletics and education were high priorities for the young students at his new school, and lamented the idea of politics interfering with sports.
'When you're part of sports, it brings so much camaraderie and so much fun. We are in a position right now, in America more importantly, where this whole race thing has taken over,' he said.
'I believe our president is trying to divide us... he is, he's dividing us and what I have noticed over the last few months is that he's kind of used sport to divide.'
James said Trump is creating a wedge by using situations like NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem and 'uninviting' NBA star Steph Curry to the White House.
He also said he might consider running for office if someone said to him he was the only person and that Trump would win if he didn't step up.
