President Trump bashes LeBron James over CNN interview: Don Lemon made him 'look smart'

Matt Eppers | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump bashes LeBron James over CNN interview President Trump reacted on Twitter to a CNN interview with LeBron James where the NBA superstar criticized the president.

It seemed inevitable that President Donald Trump would weigh in on LeBron James' recent interview with CNN's Don Lemon.

After four days, Trump finally let loose in a Friday night tweet in which he bashed James and said Lemon's interview made the new Los Angeles Lakers star "look smart." The president also alluded to preferring Michael Jordan over James.

"Lebron (sic) James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon," Trump tweeted. "He made Lebron (sic) look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!"

James sat down with Lemon for the interview Monday after he cut the ribbon on his foundation's new I Promise School in his native Akron, Ohio. James spoke at length on the intersection of sports, culture and politics.

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

James lamented Trump "using sports to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to."

"Sports has never been something that divides people. It’s always been something that brings someone together," he said.

LeBron James (@KingJames) says Trump's trying to use sport to divide people, but he believes it brings people together. He sits down with @donlemon at the opening of his new elementary school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Watch 10pET https://t.co/koTK4RarqE pic.twitter.com/CQYsTz2Fzl — CNN (@CNN) July 30, 2018

James' recent criticism of the president is not new. He has been an outspoken critic, famously calling Trump a "bum" after he rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors this past season.

However, it appears Trump did not always feel that way toward James. In what is now a seemingly regular occurrence, there's a tweet for that, as they say. In a post from May of 2013, Trump tweeted, "LeBron is a great player and a great guy!"