First Lady Melania Trump has backed LeBron James, hours after President Trump made insulting remarks about the NBA star on Twitter.
LeBron James had said in an interview that President Trump was divisive and had emboldened racists.
In response, Donald Trump questioned LeBronJames’ intelligence, saying it was not easy to make the NBA player “look smart”.
However, Melania Trump’s spokeswoman said LeBron James was “working to do good things” with a school in his Ohio hometown.
The spokeswoman said the first lady wanted “to have an open dialogue about issues facing children”.
Earlier this week, LeBron James told CNN during an interview with Don Lemon that sport had offered him the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds and race.
He said: “Sports has never been something that divides people. It’s always been something that brings someone together.
“He [President Trump] is dividing us and what I noticed over the last few months is that he’s kinda used sport to divide us and that’s something I can’t relate to, because I know that sport was the first time I was ever around someone white.”
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LeBron James also argued that President Trump’s actions had encouraged racists, saying: “I think [racism’s] always been there. But I think the president in charge now has given people – they don’t care now, they throw it to your face.”
On August 4, President Trump responded on Twitter by saying: “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!”
The president also suggested that he prefers NBA legend Michael Jordan over the LA Lakers star.
His endorsement of Michael Jordan was perhaps a reference to the long-standing debate over whether Jordan or James is the better all-time player.
However, Michael Jordan also expressed support for LeBron James. He told media outlets through his spokesperson: “I support L.J. [LeBron James]. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.”
Donald Trump has taken a harsh stance on the ongoing debate over players in the National Football League (NFL) who refuse to stand for the national anthem in protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
The president has repeatedly said that anyone who kneels during the anthem should be fired.
