President Donald Trump has never been shy about weighing in on NBA debates, and he did it again this week in a way that immediately drew attention. He delivered an honest take on who he prefers among LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
A reporter asked him directly to settle the question, and his answer went further than a simple pick.
Donald Trump Makes Bold Admission About LeBron James
Trump did not hold back. “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,” he said.
LeBron or MJ?
President Trump weighs in on one of sports’ biggest questions, asked by @pdoocy where he stands on the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate.
“I only like people that like me. I would say Michael Jordan all the way.” pic.twitter.com/JqdvK8CYgo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 24, 2026
The comment continues a pattern that stretches back years. Trump first drew national attention for his views on the GOAT debate in August 2018, when he tweeted that James had been made to “look smart” during an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon before adding “I like Mike,” a reference to Jordan.
That tweet prompted Jordan to issue a public statement backing James, mentioning that the 4-time champ is doing “an amazing job for his community.”
Trump revisited the topic again in 2020 during a Fox Sports Radio interview, saying he preferred Jordan because he “wasn’t political.”
James, for his part, has been an outspoken critic of Trump for years. In a 2018 CNN interview, he said he believed the president used sports to divide the country rather than unite it. The two have never publicly reconciled that tension, and Trump’s latest comments suggest the feud remains as active as ever.
The timing added another layer of attention to the remarks, coming just as James completed his free agency decision by signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
MORE: 76ers Legend Allen Iverson Pens Touching 10-Word Reaction to LeBron James’ Arrival In Philadelphia
Jordan, by contrast, has largely stayed out of politics throughout his career, famously avoiding public endorsements during his playing days. It is certainly a contrast that has often been highlighted whenever Trump brings the two into the same conversation.
It’s still unclear whether James will respond to the President’s comments, given that he rarely responds to his critics.
With that said, James would enter the 2026-27 season with the Sixers and would be teaming up with a star-studded roster of Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown. He has been making headlines all day, and Trump’s comment will surely keep James in the news for the next day or two.
