Former president Donald Trump slammed NBA star LeBron James for being “divisive, nasty, insulting, and demeaning,” after James tweeted a picture of the Ohio officer who shot a teenage girl while she was trying to stab someone.
“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 wrote in a statement released by his office.
“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!” he continued.
James posted a tweet on Wednesday targeting the Columbus, Ohio police officer who shot 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant as she was lunging towards another girl with a knife.
“YOU’RE NEXT!,” the tweet read.
LeBron deleted it pic.twitter.com/iJil2ohGkn
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 21, 2021
James deleted the tweet after it drew wide condemnation.
However, he refused to apologize for the tweet and said he took it down “because it’s being used to create more hate.”
I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. it’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
Body camera footage shows the Columbus officer approaching an altercation that involved Bryant.
She then began to lunge towards another girl with a knife in her outstretched hand.
The officer fired four shots, stopping her.
Additional footage showed Bryant screaming, “I’m gonna f—ing stab you, b—h!” as she moved towards the girl.
