Former President Donald Trump wrote a statement attacking basketball player and Black Lives Matter activist LeBron James for “racist rants.” Trump’s comments come after James’ now-deleted tweet in the wake of the Columbus Police killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant.
“LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA, which has just recorded the lowest television RATINGS, by far, in the long and distinguished history of the League,” Trump’s statement read. “His RACIST rants are divisive, nasty, insulting, and demeaning. He may be a great basketball player, but he is doing nothing to bring our Country together!”
James’ original tweet read, “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY,” alongside a picture of Columbus Police Officer Nicholas Readon who was identified as the officer who shot Bryant. James later deleted the tweet and expressed his thoughts in a longer message.
“I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY,” James’s wrote. Bryant was killed hours before a Minnesota jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of all changes in the killing of George Floyd.
