Laura Ingraham says LeBron James should 'shut up and dribble' after he said Trump doesn't 'give a f--- about the people'

Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized LeBron James after James continued his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump.
James, who previously called Trump a "bum," said Trump doesn't "give a f--- about the people" in a video published on Uninterrupted.
Ingraham said people should not seek political advice from someone who gets paid to play basketball. She also said James should "shut up and dribble."

Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized LeBron James and Kevin Durant over recent remarks about U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a video published on Uninterrupted, James and Durant spoke with ESPN's Cari Champion about multiple subjects, including Trump, and James continued his criticisms of the president.

"The No. 1 job in America, the point of person, is someone who doesn't understand the people, and really don't give a f--- about the people," James said. James previously called Trump a "bum" and suggested people who voted for him made a mistake.

On Thursday, Ingraham criticized James for his comments, suggesting James should not comment on political matters because he is an athlete.

"It's always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball," Ingraham said.

Ingraham also said that James should be a "cautionary lesson" for kids who try to leave high school early. James had reportedly considered petitioning the NBA to let him join the league when he was 17 and not yet finished with high school.

"Unfortunately, a lot of kids and some adults take these ignorant comments seriously," she said. "Look, there might be a cautionary lesson in LeBron for kids: this is what happens when you attempt to leave high school a year early to join the NBA."

As James recalled in the Uninterrupted video, he rose from humble beginnings and has tried to use his platform to inspire younger generations. James grew up as a fatherless only child and moved to several different apartments, at one time living with a different family, while his mother tried to stabilize their life. His rise to the NBA dug his family out of poverty.

James also addressed racial issues in the video, recalling how his house outside of L.A. was vandalized with graffiti that said "n-----." He said his earnings have not made him numb to the experiences of the black community.

"I'm a black man, with a bunch of money, and having a crib in Brentwood [California] and having the word 'n-----' spray painted on my gate," James said. "That let you know I ain't too far removed and I still got a lot of work to do."

Ingraham concluded the segment saying James and Durant should "shut up and dribble," an apparent reference to her book, "

"Why must they talk like that?" she said. She later added: "Keep the political commentary to yourself, or as someone once said, shut up and dribble."

On Friday, Fox News sent a statement from Ingraham in response to backlash over the segment.

"In 2003, I wrote a New York Times bestseller called 'Shut Up & Sing,' in which I criticized celebrities like the Dixie Chicks & Barbra Streisand who were trashing then-President George W. Bush. I have used a variation of that title for more than 15 years to respond to performers who sound off on politics. I’ve told Robert DeNiro to 'Shut Up & Act,' Jimmy Kimmel to 'Shut Up & Make Us Laugh,' and just this week told the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich to 'Shut up & Coach.' If pro athletes and entertainers want to freelance as political pundits, then they should not be surprised when they’re called out for insulting politicians. There was no racial intent in my remarks - false, defamatory charges of racism are a transparent attempt to immunize entertainment and sports elites from scrutiny and criticism."

Ingraham's comments can be seen below:

Laura Ingraham says LeBron James should 'shut up and dribble' after he said Trump doesn't 'give a f--- about the people'

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