The remarks coincided with James making headlines by signing a free agent contract to join the Philadelphia 76ers.
Asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy whether James was the greatest NBA player of all time, Trump deflected the basketball statistics entirely and instead turned the conversation toward personal grievances and long-standing political friction.
Trump did not hold back when explaining why he favors retired Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan over James.
“Maybe LeBron is a racist. But maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way,”
President Donald Trump, via Yahoo Sports
History of Tension Between Trump and LeBron James
The remarks from the Oval Office continue a public feud that spans nearly a decade. James has been an outspoken critic of Trump dating back to Trump’s first term in office. In a 2018 interview with CNN anchor Don Lemon, James stated that he believed the president was using sports to kinda divide us, and that’s something that I can’t relate to.
Trump fired back at the time on what was then Twitter, writing that James had been made to look smart
during the CNN interview before adding I like Mike,
a reference to Jordan. Trump also described Lemon at the time as the dumbest man on television.
That 2018 tweet prompted Jordan to issue a public statement backing James, mentioning that the four-time champion is doing an amazing job for his community.
The political divide between the two figures has remained steady over the years. When Trump previously weighed in on the GOAT debate in 2020 during a Fox Sports Radio interview, he stated that he preferred Jordan because Jordan wasn’t political.
The two have never publicly reconciled that tension, and Trump’s latest comments suggest the feud remains as active as ever.
Michael Jordan Friendship and Free Agency Timing
In contrast to his tense relationship with James, Trump described a warm personal rapport with Jordan. Trump noted that he plays golf with Jordan and considers him a friend, telling reporters that Jordan is a really good guy.
Jordan, who was a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, a two-time gold medalist at the Olympics, and took off two years at the height of his skills to play baseball, famously avoided public endorsements during his playing days and has largely stayed out of politics throughout his career. That neutral stance stands in stark contrast to James, who is the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion, and a four-time Olympic medalist who has played on teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers while regularly using his platform to address social and political issues.
Trump’s comments landed on the exact day that James dominated sports news cycles by signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. The move places James on a star-studded roster featuring Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown as he enters the 2026–27 NBA season. The 76ers look like the East’s second-best team with LeBron on paper, though Joel Embiid’s health could determine their ceiling in matchups against teams like the Knicks. Meanwhile, 76ers legend Allen Iverson penned a touching 10-word reaction to LeBron James’ arrival in Philadelphia.
It remains unclear whether James will respond to the President’s comments, given that he rarely responds to his critics, though Trump’s comment will surely keep James in the news for the next day or two.
Related reading