MELANIA Trump has appeared to back Lebron James despite her husband taking a swipe at the basketball player on Twitter.
The atmosphere in the White House could be a little frosty tonight with the First Lady seemingly taking the side of the 33-year-old athlete after he was interviewed by CNN’s Don Lemon and asked about Donald Trump’s attacks on black players.
James accused the President of using sport as a way to “divide us”.
He added: “Sports has never been something that divides people. It’s always been something that brings someone together.”
Trump took to Twitter to write: “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!”
Lemon has also joined the fray, taking the social networking site to say: “Who’s the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest.”
But despite her husband having a war of words with James, Melania seemed to have a different opinion to the 72-year-old US President.
A spokesman for Melania Trump said: “It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today.
“Her platform centers around visiting organizations, hospitals and schools, and she would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron”.
Jordan has also sided with ‘rival’ James and said through a spokesman: “I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.”
Lemon’s tweet referred to The Lebron James Foundation which had a new school for at risk youngsters in association with the Akron Public Schools system.
It is not the first time Trump and James have locked horns.
James called Trump a “bum” for retracting his invitation to the Golden State Warriors to celebrate their win in the NBA championships at the White House.
James said: “Going to the White House was a great honour until you showed up!”
They have also clashed over his stance on American Football players kneeling during the national anthem.
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Trump has repeatedly said that players who “took the knee” should be “fired” for “disrespecting the flag”.
James retaliated by saying: “He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country.
“He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
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