UPDATE: Michael Jordan has weighed in with a statement: “I support LJ. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.” Also on Team LeBron: Melania Trump. She praised James for his work with children, even saying she is open to visiting the school he founded in Akron. “It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the first lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today,” the first lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement. “As you know, Mrs. Trump has traveled the country and world talking to children about their well-being, healthy living, and the importance of responsible online behavior with her Be Best initiative. Her platform centers around visiting organizations, hospitals and schools, and she would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron.” EARLIER: President Donald Trump heads to a rally in Ohio today, a day after questioning Akron, Ohio hometown hero LeBron James’s intelligence in a tweet. A warm welcome may not be in the cards, if online reaction to his Twitter message is telling. Thousands of Twitter users have responded for James after Trump’s Twitter slam. So far, James himself has not answered. But other NBA players have taken up the battle for him. The incident started when Trump tweeted that “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!” Trump was responding to comments made by James in an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, in which he said that Trump was “using sports to kinda divide us. “Sports has never been something that divides people,” James told Lemon. “It’s always been something that brings someone together.” So far, stars Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell have responded to Trump. On Trump’s behalf, Fox News commenter Britt Henry and British talk show host Piers Morgan have supported Trump. I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment… https://t.co/zHjgokig8R — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018 A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better… im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it’s okay… forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018<doc-sep>Athletes and others responded to the president tweet about LeBron James. Late Friday night, President Donald Trump tweeted about LeBron James's interview with Don Lemon on CNN. In the interview, James discusses his I Promise School, a public elementary school which he opened in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. James also talked about social issues and Trump's comments about sports in the past. In response, Trump tweeted "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!" Lemon responded Saturday morning by calling out the president's controversial immigration policies. The tweet did not go over well in the sport world or beyond with many reacting on social media. Here are some of the reactions from NBA athletes: Others, including Ohio governor John Kasich have responded. James tweeted about the I Promise school, saying "Love you guys." He didn't say anything specific about Trump's tweet.<doc-sep>Late Friday night, President Donald Trump attacked both Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon on Twitter after watching James’ CNN interview, which originally aired Monday. He called Lemon “the dumbest man on television” and said he “made Lebron [sic] look smart, which isn’t easy to do.” He also weighed in on the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate, adding “I like Mike!” 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 Of course, the tweet comes on the heels of a monumental week for James. He opened a glorious public school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio — that’s why he was being interviewed on CNN — and is already paying for over 1,000 students to attend the University of Akron. In the full interview, James says, “I believe our President is trying to divide us.” From free uniforms and transportation to college tuition guaranteed for all graduates. LeBron James takes CNN's Don Lemon on an exclusive tour of his new 'I Promise' school https://t.co/roRxI7qlZl pic.twitter.com/Q1nc62asZe — CNN (@CNN) July 31, 2018 James has been a vocal critic of Trump in the past, and though Trump has sung James’ praises many times, he took a completely different tone Friday. Michael Jordan sided with LeBron James Despite his previous tweets, Trump declared his preference for “Mike” — Michael Jordan — on Friday. On Saturday, Jordan responded via a statement to NBC News’ Geoff Bennett and supported James: NEW: Jordan sides with James over Trump tweet. NBA legend Michael Jordan tells NBC News through a spokesperson: "I support LJ. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.” — Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) August 4, 2018 NBA stars such as Karl-Anthony Towns fire back at Donald Trump Story continues Several NBA players, however, fired back at President Trump in the wake of the tweet. Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns urged President Trump to get off Twitter and “get stuff done for our country.” So let me get this straight: Flint, MI has dirty water still, but you worried about an interview about a man doing good for education and generations of kids in his hometown? Shut your damn mouth! Stop using them twitter fingers and get stuff done for our country with that pen. https://t.co/sEkX3OKaJM — Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 4, 2018 Towns’ teammate Anthony Tolliver said he was done being quiet regarding Trump’s criticisms. I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment… https://t.co/zHjgokig8R — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018 Stephen Curry backed James, too. Utah Jazz star guard and noted good guy Donovan Mitchell thought Trump’s tweet was a sign of insecurity. A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better… im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it’s okay… forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018 Wizards All Star Brad Beal kept it simple: Hornets big man Frank Kaminsky weighed in: This is officially the most 2018 thing ever… https://t.co/e72YhlFsKF — Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) August 4, 2018 Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tweeted his affinity for Barack Obama. And fellow Nets forward Jared Dudley said simply “He’s gotta go!” Current free agent Sean Kilpatrick also tweeted: Let me find out the president is clout chasing 🤔🤔🤔 — Sean Kilpatrick Jr (@SeanKilpatrick) August 4, 2018 Hillary Clinton joined the cadre of NBA players to tweet on James’ behalf. . @KingJames is a great family man, incredible ballplayer, gives back to his community, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He’s a world class athlete and a class act. We need more like him in this world. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 4, 2018 As did Lakers owner and team president Jeanie Buss. The following statement was issued today by Jeanie Buss on behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers: pic.twitter.com/5rRTzGbU9s — Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 4, 2018 Even Lemon himself had to weigh in. The CNN anchor asked rhetorically, “Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages?” 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 More from Yahoo Sports: • Ohio State’s Urban Meyer admits he knew about allegations on ex-assistant • EA Sports apologizes for editing out Colin Kaepernick’s name in ‘Madden’ • WWE’s Kane wins mayoral election in Tennessee • Terez Paylor: Keeping Big Ben happy is top task for Steelers’ new coordinator<doc-sep>Washington: US President Donald Trump sniped back at NBA great LeBron James late Friday, days after the basketball player and philanthropist accused him of fueling racial divides in the United States. "Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, (CNN presenter) Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do," the president tweeted. 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 In an interview on Tuesday — also broadcast late Friday — James told CNN he believed Trump "is kind of trying to divide us." "He's kind of used sport to... divide us and that's something I can't relate to, because I know that sport was the first time I ever was around someone white. You know?" said James, who on Monday opened an elementary school for at-risk youth in his native Akron, Ohio. Trump's comment sparked huge reaction on Twitter from James' backers. "We got your back @KingJames Someone sure sound like they wish they was you. ", tweeted linebacker Bobby Wagner of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. We got your back @KingJames 🙏🏾 Someone sure sound like they wish they was you.— Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) August 4, 2018 James, who ranks seventh in career National Basketball Association scoring, also told CNN Tuesday he would "never sit across" from Trump, whom he accuses of emboldening racists. "I think (racism's) always been there. But I think the president in charge now has given people — they don't care now, they throw it to your face," he said. That echoed comments he made in January that Trump had "given people and racism... an opportunity to be out and outspoken without fear." Indeed, this week's exchange is just the latest in a long-running feud between James and the president. In June, Trump said that neither the Cleveland Cavaliers — James' previous team — nor the Golden State Warriors would be invited to the White House following the NBA Finals. He was responding to remarks by then-Cavs star James and Warriors ace Stephen Curry, who both said they would not attend a White House reception. Last year, Trump also withdrew an invitation to the NBA champions Warriors after Curry and several teammates indicated misgivings about attending a White House event. James described Trump as a "bum" following the furor.<doc-sep>
LeBron James made headlines this week for opening a public school aimed at helping at-risk children in his Akron, Ohio, receiving praise from the sports world for lifting up his hometown community. Among the multiple interviews the new Los Angeles Laker gave about the school was a sit-down with CNN’s Don Lemon, which caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who then fired off this tweet late on Friday night. He attacked James’ intelligence while also appearing to say he’s on the Michael Jordan side of the GOAT debate. 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 Unsurprisingly, people in sports were appalled by the president’s comments about James, who has been a vocal critic of his and said in the interview he thinks the White House is using sports to divide Americans. Here’s how NBA stars, athletes and others in the sports world reacted to the situation. UPDATE: Michael Jordan released a statement supporting LeBron, via Yahoo Sports Shams Charania. Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan’s official statement, via spokesperson, in wake of Donald Trump tweet referencing him and LeBron James: “I support LJ. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.” — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 4, 2018 So let me get this straight: Flint, MI has dirty water still, but you worried about an interview about a man doing good for education and generations of kids in his hometown? Shut your damn mouth! Stop using them twitter fingers and get stuff done for our country with that pen. https://t.co/sEkX3OKaJM — Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 4, 2018 A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better… im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it’s okay… forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018 I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment… https://t.co/zHjgokig8R — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018 Sometimes I wake up and see my news updates and think this can’t be real. How on earth is a self made millionaire who just gave away a school being criticized by the president? — Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) August 4, 2018 This is a late night tweet from the PRESIDENT. This tweet is immature and offensive. I would like to know why he considers these two successful black men “dumb”. I know why. Some of y’all need to start believing what he is showing you. 🤷🏿‍♂️ https://t.co/iE79LtGqBz — Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) August 4, 2018 LeBron James is helping young people get an education. You are an old delusional racist who puts our country at risk. — Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) August 4, 2018 This is officially the most 2018 thing ever… https://t.co/e72YhlFsKF — Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) August 4, 2018 LeBron is going to be President one day — Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) 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 It should be beneath the dignity of a sitting POTUS to take racist shots at D. Lemon and Lebron James. While only uttering kind words for ruthless dictators, Putin, Kim and Duterte. President Trump, we cape up for ours , “BELIEVE THAT” #KinOrSkinWeRide — shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) August 4, 2018