Trump and Shapiro's Wildly Different Reactions to LeBron James' 76ers Move
Newsweek · C · trust 37/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. President Donald Trump and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro offered sharply contrasting responses to the news that NBA legend LeBron James is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers .
Trump, when asked Friday in the Oval Office to weigh in on the James vs. Michael Jordan "best player ever" debate, said, "Michael Jordan's a guy that's a friend of mine ... and I think LeBron is—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."
Newsweek has reached out to the White House, along with representatives for James and Jordan via email Friday afternoon for comment.
Shapiro, meanwhile, proclaimed Friday as "LeBron James Day" in the state. The Democratic governor posted on X, LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY. By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan... I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY. Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, @KingJames."
James first emerged as a prominent critic of Trump during the 2017 dispute over NFL anthem protests, which grew out of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick's campaign against police brutality and racial injustice. After Trump criticized players who knelt during the national anthem, James accused the president of using sports to divide Americans and said he would not let "one individual" use sports as a platform for division.
In response to the spat, Jordan told The Charlotte Observer in 2017 that athletes taking a knee during the national anthem should not be "demonized or ostracized."
"One of the fundamental rights this country is founded on was freedom of speech, and we have a long tradition of nonviolent, peaceful protest. Those who exercise the right to peacefully express themselves should not be demonized or ostracized," Jordan said.
"At a time of increasing divisiveness and hate in this country, we should be looking for ways to work together and support each other and not create more division. I support Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA, its players and all those who wish to exercise their right to free speech."
The criticism intensified through Trump's first term. In a 2018 CNN interview, James said Trump "doesn't give a f*** about the American people," adding that the president's comments were both "laughable" and "scary." He also argued that Trump's rhetoric had emboldened racism by giving some people confidence to express racist views openly.
After Trump criticized James following the CNN interview and declared, "I like Mike," Jordan responded through a spokesperson: "I support LeBron James. He's doing an amazing job for his community."
In 2020, after Trump criticized NBA players for kneeling during the national anthem amid the George Floyd protests, James responded that the basketball community was not concerned about losing the president's viewership, saying, "The game will go on without his eyes on it."
The exchanges underscored a yearslong feud that has centered on race, politics and athlete activism.
Trump's remarks also come despite previous efforts by Jordan's representatives to distance the basketball legend from partisan political endorsements. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Jordan's camp publicly rejected a viral fake social media post that falsely claimed he had endorsed Trump, reiterating that the NBA Hall of Famer had not endorsed a candidate in the race. The episode highlighted Jordan's longstanding preference to avoid aligning himself publicly with political campaigns.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins.
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