Trump says CNN’s Don Lemon makes LeBron look smart

President Trump targeted LeBron James on Friday night in a tweet that takes a swipe at the NBA player and calls CNN host Don Lemon “the dumbest man on television.” 

“Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do,” he tweeted. Lemon is a host on CNN, the network Trump frequently most criticizes as “fake news.”

“I like Mike,” he added, weighing in on a long-standing debate over the greatness of James versus another iconic NBA player, Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan.

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

Trump, previously a fan of James in various tweets through 2015, may be responding to James’s recent criticism of him.

{mosads}

In the CNN interview, James criticized Trump for using sports to “kind of trying to divide us.”

CNN noted that although the interview originally aired Monday, it had re-aired Friday night shortly before Trump’s tweet.

It’s not the first time that Trump has individually targeted a sports player for a personal attack. He has criticized NFL players who kneel during the anthem, and has frequently called out basketball players for being ungrateful or discourteous.

James, elsewhere in the interview, indicated that Trump could force him into politics – but it was unlikely.

“If someone tried to recruit a James to run for president, they said, ‘Listen, they’ve got no one, if you don’t run, Trump’s going to win,’ would you run?” Lemon asked.

“Well, in that case, I may,” James said.

“If they have no one? I believe there’s some people out there. I hope. Let’s see, first.”

Trump supporters have criticized James for speaking out against Trump in the past, with Fox News host Laura Ingraham telling him to “shut up and dribble.”

James responded by saying he will continue to use his platform to speak out when he feels it’s needed.

-Updated 7:13 a.m.