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President Trump had harsh tweet-words overnight for NBA superstar and occasional critic LeBron James, and harsher ones for TV journalist Don Lemon, but expressed continued support for Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls legend who studiously avoided political entanglements throughout his career:
Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
What a difference, one might conclude from this 2013 tweet by Trump, five years have made:
Congratulations to @KingJames on winning Athlete of the Year in last night’s @ESPYS. LeBron is also a great guy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2013
Former “great guy!” James, asked by CNN’s Lemon last week what he would say were he seated across the table from Trump, had replied: “I would never sit across from him.”
Trump is headed to James’s native Ohio for a Saturday evening rally event in support of the Republican candidate in a special House election set for Tuesday.
James, who was raised in Akron and has just opened a public school there, this year ended his second multiyear stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and inked a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sounds like @FLOTUS had the remote last night. 📺 We hope you both saw the incredible work of @KingJames. #BeBesthttps://t.co/3Ok0z9Z6Ro
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 4, 2018