Veteran journalist Dan Rather tore into President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE for his late-night tweet attacking NBA star LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon.

In a tweet sent shortly after the president’s, the longtime CBS News anchor called Trump’s comments “racist” and “dangerous.”

“This is apparently what the President of the United States feels the need to share with the world at what should be long past his bedtime?” Rather tweeted. “It's a disgrace. It's racist. And it's the product of petty but dangerous hatreds. I repeat this is the PRESIDENT??!?”

This is apparently what the President of the United States feels the need to share with the world at what should be long past his bedtime? It's a disgrace. It's racist. And it's the product of petty but dangerous hatreds. I repeat this is the PRESIDENT??!? https://t.co/MA8nZUxFc7 — Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 4, 2018

Trump, who has been a fan of James in years past, appeared to be responding to the player’s criticism of him during his CNN interview with Lemon.

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James accused Trump of using sports to “divide us.”



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

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 3, 2018

Trump has repeatedly targeted black athletes during his time on the campaign trail and as president, in particular lashing out at NFL players kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice and suggesting they don’t belong in the U.S. He has also feuded with some basketball players, calling a group that was arrested in China "ungrateful" for his help.

James, who recently opened a school for at-risk children — earning praise from former President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama Michelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaBlack stars reimagine 'Friends' to get out the vote Obama shares phone number to find out how Americans are planning to vote Michelle Obama: 'Don't listen to people who will say that somehow voting is rigged' MORE — has been a harsh critic of Trump, calling him a “bum” and saying that he doesn’t “give a f---" about the American people.