NBA superstar LeBron James announced his latest free agency decision on Friday, revealing that he will be playing for the Philadelphia 76ers for the next two seasons.
At the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump was naturally asked about it, as Fox News’ Peter Doocey asked the president who he thinks is the greatest basketball player of all time, James or Michael Jordan.
As usual, Trump went with the player who likes him more.
“Well, Michael Jordan is a guy who is a friend of mine — play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said in answering the question. “I think LeBron is… Maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know, but I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way…. I only like people who like me.”
Trump: “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.” pic.twitter.com/57WNqHWSHH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 24, 2026
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The question actually has some complicated history. In 2017, James famously referred to Trump as “U Bum,” in reference to a controversy in which the Golden State Warriors opted not to appear at the White House. Surprisingly, nearly a decade after that, James is still an active NBA player, while Trump is still in politics. James endorsed Kamala Harris for president in 2024.
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
As for Jordan, he was historically much more reluctant than James to get involved in politics. In the 1990s, he famously said “Republicans buy sneakers too,” in refusing to make a commercial opposing Jesse Helms, the famously racist Republican senator who represented his home state of North Carolina.
Jordan has maintained that reluctance to endorse politicians, and despite their golf outings together, he has never endorsed Trump in any of his campaigns. There was a 2014 controversy in which Jordan ribbed then-President Barack Obama’s golf skills, and a news report four years later stated that Jordan and Obama had played golf together, along with another Trump pal, Tiger Woods.
Another politician, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, reportedly lobbied James to sign with his favorite team, the Sixers, and once the signing was announced, Shapiro proclaimed LeBron James Day in Pennsylvania.
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan… I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, @KingJames. pic.twitter.com/JHsNkCFyyN
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 24, 2026
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
