Trump accuses LeBron James of "RACIST rant" amid backlash over NBA star's "You're next" tweet about Ma'Khia Bryant's cop
Former President Donald Trump verified the name of hoop superstar LeBron James for posting a tweet targeting the Ohio cop who killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant on Tuesday.
"LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA," Trump wrote in a statement, before mocking the league for its "lowest TV ratings" in history.
"His RACIST diatribes are divisive, unpleasant, insulting and humiliating," the statement said. "He may be a great basketball player, but he is doing nothing to bring our country closer together!"
The 45th President's searing rebuke comes after hoop phenomenon James tweeted a photo of Columbus cop Nicholas Reardon allegedly firing the deadly bullets that shot Bryant under the all-in-one caption: "YOU'RE NEXT" and a hashtag that said: "# RESPONSIBILITY"
News of Bryant's death came shortly after former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder and manslaughter of George Floyd last year.
The Lakers MVP ended up removing the tweet saying it was "being used to create more hate."
After launching a barrage of frustration from his fans over the deletion of the original tweet on Wednesday night, James attempted to elucidate the source of his discontent.
He wrote: “I am so tired of seeing black people killed by the police.
"I took the tweet because it is used to create more hate - He is not an officer. It's about the whole system and they always use our words to create more racism.
“I am so desperate for more RESPONSIBILITY. "
In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: "ANGER is good for one of us and that includes me!" "
