President Donald Trump stated on Friday, July 24, 2026, that NBA star LeBron James is maybe a racist during a news conference in the Oval Office. Trump’s comments came as he weighed in on the greatest-of-all-time debate, declaring his preference for Michael Jordan over James.
When asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy whether James was the greatest NBA player of all time, Trump bypassed basketball statistics to base his decision on personal loyalty and friendship.
The Jordan Preference and the ‘Racist’ Claim
Trump explicitly aligned himself with Michael Jordan, citing their personal relationship as the primary reason for his choice. He noted that he has played golf with Jordan and described the Hall of Famer as a really good guy.
“I think LeBron is — maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump. But I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Trump, 80, elaborated on his preference in the Oval Office, stating, Well, Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine. I golf with him. He’s a really good guy.
He continued, And I think LeBron, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. But I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.
While Trump did not specify what evidence led him to speculate that James might be a racist, the remark serves as a sharp contrast to Jordan’s public persona. Jordan, who is retired, was a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and a two-time gold medalist at the Olympics. He also took off two years at the height of his skills to play baseball.
A History of Public Feuds and Political Endorsements
The tension between the president and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is not new. The two have traded barbs since Trump’s first term, often centering on the intersection of sports and social justice. In a CNN interview with Don Lemon, James argued that Trump was using sports to kinda divide us, and that’s something that I can’t relate to.
The friction intensified in 2018 when James said Trump doesn’t “give a f‑‑‑” about the American people. ”It’s not even a surprise when he says something,” James said. It’s, like, laughable; it’s laughable, and it’s scary.
He added, “While we cannot change what comes out of that man’s mouth, we can continue to alert the people that watch us, that listen to us that this is not the way.
Trump had responded to James that year by calling him a “bum” after James defended fellow NBA superstar Stephen Curry for not going to the White House to celebrate the Golden State Warriors’ championship.
This ideological divide is reflected in James’s voting record. In 2016, James endorsed Hillary Clinton, stating she was better equipped to make sure kids didn’t fall through the cracks.
He said, “When I look at this year’s presidential race, it’s clear which candidate believes the same thing. Only one person running truly understands the struggles of an Akron child born into poverty. And when I think about the kinds of policies and ideas the kids in my foundation need from our government, the choice is clear. That candidate is Hillary Clinton.”
LeBron’s Move to Philadelphia and the Knicks Connection
The timing of Trump’s comments coincides with a major shift in the NBA landscape. LeBron James, 41, made headlines on July 24 for signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. James, a four-time champion and four-time Olympic medalist, previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
This move places James in the Eastern Conference, potentially setting up a clash with the New York Knicks. On paper, the 76ers look like the East’s second-best team with LeBron on paper, though it has been noted that Joel Embiid’s health could determine their ceiling.
The Knicks’ relationship with the presidency remains positive. Following their championship victory on Saturday, June 13, owner James Dolan confirmed that his team received an invitation from the White House, where they are expected to meet President Donald Trump.
As James begins his tenure in Philadelphia, the sports world will watch to see if his pursuit of another title brings him into further conflict with the president, particularly if the 76ers face the Knicks in a high-stakes Eastern Conference battle.
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