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Racist remark at White House
President Donald Trump suggested LeBron James may be "a racist" while comparing the NBA star to Michael Jordan during remarks at the White House on Friday.
“Trump suggests LeBron James is 'racist' during Michael Jordan comparison President Donald Trump let his feelings be known about LeBron James when asked about the NBA star on Friday, July 24”
Trump said, "Michael Jordan's a guy that's a friend of mine. I play golf with him," and added that he thinks LeBron "maybe he's a racist but maybe he doesn't like Trump."
The comments came after James announced he would sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, a move described in the coverage as the latest chapter in a long-running public feud between Trump and James.
NBC10 Philadelphia framed the moment as Trump weighing in on the debate over whether LeBron or Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history after James announced his signing with the 76ers.
Feud echoes past barbs
The remarks drew on a history of direct exchanges between the two figures, including James calling Trump a "bum" on X in 2017 after Trump pulled his White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors.
NBC10 Philadelphia quoted James’s post: "U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going!" and described how going to the White House had been "a great honor until you showed up!"
The Hill also tied the Friday comments to earlier clashes, noting that in 2018 James said Trump doesn’t "give a f‑‑‑" about the American people.
In the same coverage, The Hill quoted James saying, "While we cannot change what comes out of that man’s mouth, we can continue to alert the people that watch us" after Trump’s earlier remarks on race.
Deal, politics, and backlash
The Friday comments landed the day LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with coverage also noting he played with the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
“President Donald Trump suggested that basketball superstar LeBron James might be “a racist,” telling reporters Friday that “I only like people that like me”
Deadline reported that James confirmed he was headed to the 76ers for "a chance at the feeling of winning another championship," and it also cited ESPN reporting the $8 million, two-year deal.
USA Today described Trump’s comparison as happening "on the day James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers" and repeated Trump’s line that he would "say Michael Jordan all the way."
Across the coverage, the dispute was framed as part of a broader pattern of sports and politics in the United States, with Trump and James trading barbs that included criticism over athletes' political activism and comments surrounding race and social justice.
