During a speech at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit on Saturday in Tampa, former US President Donald Trump quipped that LeBron James could play basketball as a woman.
The former president seemed to be mocking transgender athletes, a topic he frequently discusses. He has previously demanded that transgender women be prohibited from participating in sports.
Trump remarked: "If I were a basketball coach of the women's team, I would be the greatest coach of all time. I'm not a fan of LeBron James at all. I don't like him, but I say, 'LeBron, did you ever think of becoming a woman? Did you ever because I'd like to have you on my team.' I'd love to have you on our team LeBron. But, think of it it's so crazy what's happening."
Donald Trump implied support for LeBron James' outstanding basketball talent according to Lakers Daily. The comments, however identical to ones he's made before, were meant to inflame his Conservative-friendly audience.
A Long Time Feud
Similar remarks about LeBron James potentially undergoing sex reassignment surgery to play in women's sports have been made by Trump in the past.
James has never acknowledged that he might be transgender in public and identifies as a man.
The former president and the basketball player have been clashing for a while per Insider; last year, after James reacted to the police killing of Ohio teen Ma'Khia Bryant in April, the former president called LeBron James "racist" and "divisive."
Throughout Trump's term in power, James was vocal in his criticism, at one point charging him with exploiting sports to foment division.
James has been direct in his criticism of Donald Trump, who is renowned for having a very thin skin, and Trump's allegation that he is not a fan of James has evolved.
Trump was eager to congratulate James on social media when James was playing for the Miami Heat championship team.
James probably didn't take the early praise seriously, making it more likely that he won't be responding to any of Trump's comments.
James is probably more focused on the 2022-23 Lakers season.
LeBron's Company Files Trademark for 'Shut Up and Dribble'
Meanwhile, the business that NBA superstar LeBron James controls have applied to trademark the term, four years after Fox News personality Laura Ingrahm advised him to "shut up and dribble."
Uninterrupted, Inc. has filed a trademark application that will cover things like "downloadable virtual goods, namely computer programs featuring footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, sports bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys, and accessories for use online and in online virtual worlds."
As per the report from Bet, entertainment services like video, social media posts, music, and games are also included in the file.
After James lambasted then-president Donald Trump in 2018, Ingraham first used the word to refer to him.
That time, LeBron James noted that "The climate is hot." He added: "The number-one job in America, the appointed person is someone who doesn't understand the people. And really don't give a (expletive) about the people."
James, a four-time NBA champion, was referred to by Ingraham as someone "who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball" in her support of Trump at the time, and she stated that James has to leave political commentary "to himself" and "shut up and dribble."
