LeBron James has been a great asset to America. He’s not just a great basketball player, he devotes millions of dollars and his time to his hometown of Akron and elsewhere. He gave a great interview to Don Lemon. I recommend watching it here.
Trump couldn’t deal with it. Trump used his charity to buy pictures of himself. Trump went racist to appeal to his base by insulting the intelligence of James and Lemon. (This is similar to his terrible baseless comments on Maxine Waters’ IQ.
Fortunately, a lot people defended James including Michael Jordan and the First Lady.
Some great tweets below!
Also: I would urge people to watch the full interview between @donlemon and @KingJames. It was a thoughtful conversation about race and education in America — the sort of discussion we need more of In our country. https://t.co/quGYZoWJmr
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 4, 2018
Rather than criticizing @KingJames, we should be celebrating him for his charity work and efforts to help kids.
By the way, all-around he’s better than Michael Jordan. That’s a fact.
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 4, 2018
A thought exercise: look at the birth circumstances, schooling, life opportunities and inherited wealth of Lebron James and 45 and tell me which of those men can say they’re self made.
— jelani cobb (@jelani9) August 4, 2018
"It was Trump’s version of telling a black basketball player to shut up and dribble," writes sports columnist Jeff Zillgitt on Trump's recent tweet about LeBron James. https://t.co/7IvdgqZWYX
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 4, 2018
Hey sports fans, help me out. Has @POTUS #Trump ever condemned a white athlete by name? Would it be correct to say 100% of Trump's named sports targets have been African American men? https://t.co/uSX310AlQC
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) August 4, 2018
The story of @KingJames’ school — and the services that set it apart from traditional public schls — is fascinating. https://t.co/uhBLVqQoXM
— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) August 4, 2018
This is SUCH a Michael Jordan quote. And exactly why many of us will never respect him off the court. https://t.co/ZdtF9yBFXi
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) August 4, 2018
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) August 4, 2018
There’s a lot of insults the president could have hurled at LeBron and Don Lemon, but it says something that the president openly questioned their intelligence. Gee, wonder why.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 4, 2018
LeBron James just opened a public school for at-risk kids, while the Trump Administration continues to keep migrant children separated from their families. That's all you need to know.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 4, 2018
I want every Uncle Tom black pastor, HBCU president, rapper, game show host or ex-football star who sat up and smiled for a photo op with Donald Trump to stand before black America and defend this racist crap. https://t.co/F21YcJm3WJ
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 4, 2018
Lebron did something really important for thousands of American children and Trump popped in to say “He’s dumb, Jordan’s better.” No congrats or kudos or even a nod of respect.
— Touré (@Toure) August 4, 2018
Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest https://t.co/XO50qVksnR
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) August 4, 2018
Oh boy. After President Trump insulted LeBron James, Melania Trump issues a statement saying she’s open to visiting the school he just opened in Ohio. pic.twitter.com/t0eJ4oDrxq
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 4, 2018
I wouldn’t underestimate Trump’s ability to use a beef with LeBron to his advantage. Many whites have huge resentment against black athletes who take political stands. See them as ungrateful for their $$$ and success. https://t.co/fGaUEdPRN0 https://t.co/Hhdyeh1F4g
— Not Phil Klinkner (@pklinkne) August 4, 2018
How it’s playing in Ohio — Akron Beacon-Journal : President Trump slams LeBron James’ intelligence on Twitter, draws immediate negative reaction https://t.co/iV3HOkToB3
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 4, 2018
As @hbryant42 put it, “LeBron James is the first black athlete since Ali to be both the best, most recognizable player in American professional sports and one who makes unequivocal support for black America inseparable from his public persona” https://t.co/6EWDl74AlV
— Ian Gordon (@id_gordon) August 4, 2018
No matter what #POTUS does for our economy, foreign relations or religious freedom THIS will be his legacy. Insulting Americans. We may disagree on policy, but we must always gravitate toward decency and respect. Leaders lead in word AND deed. We should expect and demand BOTH. https://t.co/9htjzI6LK8
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) August 4, 2018
An embarrassment, indeed! https://t.co/7Wwz9TRlNA
— Serge Kovaleski (@sergenyt) August 4, 2018
Actually, LeBron James opening a public school in Akron isn't really about his intelligence. It's about his decency. Compare and contrast it with the time Donald Trump visited a school 21 years ago. https://t.co/FS0bSDkX64 pic.twitter.com/C507xZ5ZcY
— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) August 4, 2018
I'd much rather live in a world reflecting the values, philanthropy, and yes intelligence of LeBron James and Don Lemon's intelligent commitment to truth and journalism than the divisive peevishness, lies, and narrow self-interest displayed by the President of the United States.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 4, 2018
You know MJ is SO MAD he just got dragged into this
https://t.co/3FEbSOuteq— Astead (@AsteadWesley) August 4, 2018
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that Trump thinks African-Americans are dumb. https://t.co/m1ttyopbcQ
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) August 4, 2018
Trump’s been calling Maxine Waters dumb for months and you all just shrugged. I don’t even know why people debate whether he’s a racist any more.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) August 4, 2018
In Trump's World:
Obama: Kenyan
LeBron James: dumb
Don Lemon: dumb
Maxine Waters: low IQ
black countries: shitholes
black athletes: SOBs
Black tenants: unwelcome
Black workers: lazy
Central Park 5: guilty
Mexicans: rapists
Muslims: terrorists
Indians: fake
Nazis: very fine people— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 4, 2018
The most insightful part of the interview was when Don and Lebron talked about how people would hurl slurs at them no matter how much they achieved in life. Fame and fortune does not immunize them from such terrible treatment. This tweet proves what a necessary interview it was. https://t.co/N90s9oF67p
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) August 4, 2018
Sad! 