Trump says LeBron James is 'maybe' racist in Oval Office GOAT answer
President Donald Trump used a Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James question to accuse the new 76ers star of possibly being racist.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
President Donald Trump turned a Trump LeBron racist moment into the headline of a routine sports question Friday, saying from the Oval Office that LeBron James is “maybe” racist while explaining why he prefers Michael Jordan in basketball’s GOAT debate.
The exchange aired on Fox News after White House reporter Peter Doocy asked Trump to choose between Jordan and James, a debate usually argued with championships, scoring records and era comparisons.
Trump went a different direction. He said Jordan is a friend, said he has played golf with him, and called him “a really good guy.”
Then he shifted to James, now a Philadelphia 76er, and made the personal accusation.
“And I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know,” Trump said, according to the televised exchange.
Trump added that he only likes people who like him, then said he would choose Jordan “all the way.”
Why did Trump call LeBron James racist?
Trump did not offer evidence in the Oval Office exchange for calling James “maybe” racist. His explanation centered on his personal relationship with Jordan and his belief that James may dislike him.
James has been a frequent critic of Trump and has supported Trump’s past presidential opponents, according to TMZ. He has also spoken publicly in support of social justice causes and against police violence.
The latest remark comes years after James and Trump clashed during Trump’s earlier time in office. James called Trump a “bum” after Trump rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors, even though the team was not expected to make the visit because of politics, according to TMZ.
A year later, Trump attacked James’ intelligence on social media, TMZ reported. That post drew public support for James, including a response from Jordan.
Trump’s preference for Jordan over James is not new, according to TMZ, but Friday’s answer put a sharper edge on a familiar sports comparison. Rather than talk about titles, statistics or basketball skill, Trump framed the choice around personal loyalty.
Jordan and James are among the most common names in the greatest-of-all-time argument. Jordan won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, while James is a four-time champion and one of the league’s most visible figures on and off the court.
The Fox News exchange did not include a response from James to Trump’s latest comment.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.