U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited his long-running feud with NBA superstar LeBron James, suggesting the basketball icon might be a racist while declaring NBA legend Michael Jordan as the greatest player in basketball history.
Trump made the remarks during a White House press conference on Friday while responding to questions about LeBron James’ latest career move.
Earlier in the day, James announced that he would continue his illustrious NBA career after agreeing to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year contract, ending weeks of speculation over his future. The 41-year-old described the move as the “last decision” of his professional basketball career, signaling that retirement may be approaching after more than two decades in the league.
When journalists asked Trump whether he considered James or Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player of all time, the President quickly sided with the Chicago Bulls legend.
Trump praised Jordan, describing him as both a friend and an exceptional athlete. Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine. I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said.
The President then turned his attention to James, making a controversial remark that has already sparked debate across social media and the sports world. I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way, Trump added.
The latest comments are another chapter in the well-documented public disagreements between Trump and James.
LeBron has frequently criticized Trump over the years, particularly during both of Trump’s presidential terms. The NBA star has openly supported Democratic presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, in elections against Trump.
Their relationship deteriorated significantly in 2017 when James publicly referred to Trump as “a bum” after the President withdrew a White House invitation traditionally extended to championship-winning NBA teams.
Since then, the pair have repeatedly exchanged criticism, with James often using his platform to comment on issues such as racial justice, voting rights, education, and social inequality, while Trump has periodically responded with criticism of the basketball star.
Despite the political controversy, James remains focused on extending one of the most decorated careers in basketball history.
The four-time NBA champion announced that he would join the Philadelphia 76ers, hoping to capture a fifth championship before eventually retiring from professional basketball.
Over an extraordinary career spanning more than two decades, James has won NBA titles with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, cementing his status as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
He has also been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) four times and holds several league records, including becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the player with the most games played in league history.
James’ move to Philadelphia is expected to strengthen the 76ers’ championship ambitions and has generated significant excitement among basketball fans ahead of the new NBA season.
Trump’s endorsement of Michael Jordan over LeBron James adds another voice to one of the most enduring debates in basketball history.
Supporters of Jordan point to his six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and perfect 6-0 record in NBA Finals appearances as evidence that he remains the greatest player ever.
Meanwhile, LeBron’s supporters argue that his longevity, versatility, statistical dominance, and sustained excellence across multiple franchises have established him as the greatest player of his generation and one of the finest athletes in the history of professional sports.
As discussions over the NBA’s greatest player continue, Trump’s latest remarks are likely to fuel further debate both on and off the basketball court.
