“U Bum” He Won't Forgive, Trump on LeBron: I Only Like People Who Like Me, He Might Be a Racist
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The US President weighed in on LeBron James' decision to sign with Philadelphia and whether he considers him a better player than Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan is my friend. I think LeBron might be a racist, or maybe he just doesn't like Trump. I don't know for sure, but I only like people who like me. That's why I've always sided with Michael Jordan in that choice.
A Long-Standing Feud
These statements are the latest in a years-long dispute between Trump and James. Their conflict dates back to 2016, when James endorsed Hillary Clinton in her campaign against Trump. At the time, he wrote that a “president who brings us together and keeps us united” was needed.
The conflict intensified after Trump's victory. In 2017, the President rescinded the Golden State Warriors' invitation to the White House after their championship win, to which James reacted on social media:
U bum. Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!
Trump retaliated the following year after James' interview. He wrote that host Don Lemon made “LeBron look smart, which isn't easy to do.” In that conversation, James criticized Trump for attacking Black athletes who protested racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.
Support for Democrats and Criticism of Other Athletes
Since then, Trump has periodically attacked James, while simultaneously expressing his admiration for Jordan. On Friday, he stated that he played golf with Jordan and that he is “a really good guy.” James, on the other hand, endorsed Joe Biden in 2020, and then Kamala Harris in her unsuccessful presidential campaign against Trump in 2024.
When I think about my children, my family, and their upbringing, the choice is clear - James posted on platform X ahead of the 2024 election, alongside a video featuring a series of Trump's controversial statements.
James is just one of many professional athletes Trump has criticized since he first ran for president a decade ago. Among them, at various times, have been NBA stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
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