Shutterstock/Evan El-Amin, Kathy Hutchins
April 23, 2021, 7:25 am*
In a vaguely amusing turn of events, Donald Trump, of all people, is accusing LeBron James of being “divisive, nasty, insulting and demeaning” after a tweet the NBA star made about the recent police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant.
Featured Video
Hide
The 16-year-old was shot four times by Officer Nicholas Reardon after police responded to a 911 call about an attempted stabbing in Columbus, Ohio.
The shooting has caused an uproar in the community and the country, with many wondering why police couldn’t have tried any other way to subdue a teenage girl with a knife other than shooting her multiple times. Others have insisted the shooting was justified.
Advertisement
Hide
James waded into the fray on Wednesday, tweeting out “You’re Next” alongside a photo of Reardon and hashtagging it “#Accountability.”
He later deleted the tweet after concern it was “being used to create more hate,” and explained how tired he is of Black people dying at the hands of police.
But Trump saw an opportunity and slammed James for caring about his community instead of simply being an emotionless basketball player.
“LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA, which has just recorded the lowest television RATINGS, by far, in the long and distinguished history of the League,” the ex-reality star said.
He also claimed James’ “RACIST rants are divisive, nasty, insulting and demeaning,” and said, “he is doing nothing to bring our Country together!”
Advertisement
Hide
This is far from the first time Trump has lashed out at James, who has been very publicly critical of the disgraced president in the past. Trump also has a history of focusing on TV ratings when trying to attack his enemies, revealing far more about his own priorities than anything else.
While even James seems to have reconsidered his tweet, the call for accountability on the police force is something many in this nation—including some Republicans—have been waking up to in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. And it’s a conversation that needs to be had.
Advertisement
Hide
Trump’s interest in shifting the narrative away from that and onto a single tweet to attack someone he doesn’t like is exactly what anyone would expect from him, and a good reminder that Twitter is a better place without him.
*First Published: April 23, 2021, 7:24 am
0 Comments