In a season when individual and team accomplishments are on display, attention appears to be focused on particular off-court issues that threaten to engulf the WNBA. Indiana Fever backup Sophie Cunningham made waves when she used an ESPN interview to express viewpoints against transgender athletes.
Since then, statements for and against what Cunningham said have flowed not only across social media but also across television itself. Now, old footage of the holder of the highest political office in the United States opined, trying to involve an NBA icon in the situation. Social media did not let that fact go undiscussed.
President Tried to Lure LeBron James in Transgender Debate, Social Media Responds
In recent years, the gap between sports and politics has continued to narrow. As a result, sports have become a platform for some to discuss their political/social beliefs. After Cunningham’s ESPN interview, backlash occurred.
Now, President Donald Trump tried to rope LeBron James into the debate centered around transgender athletes in sports. Social media offered a varied response. In this tweet, the president mentioned James. The video comes from a 2022 speech.
“Donald Trump says if he coached in the WNBA, he’d ask LeBron if he has “any desire to be a woman” the president said, in what many think is both a rhetorical question and an insult at the same time. One response, albeit brief, encapsulated fans’ thoughts.
Good god https://t.co/aBqrMFKcDZ
— Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins (@daniel_dsj2110) August 5, 2026
“Good God,” declared one X user. The president has interjected himself into the sports world in myriad ways, from trying to interfere in college football to attending an NBA Finals game, to the chagrin of fans. Reaction from across the globe occurred, with some taking the comments as humor.
This is the funniest a sitting president has ever been I’m sorry😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/5AvxLf3Tac
— Tunde Young (@realtundeyoung) August 5, 2026
“This is the funniest a sitting president has ever been I’m sorry.” stated one user. Additionally, many Trump supporters continue to take the comments as his sense of humor.
“HAHAHA, Maybe we’re bringing Lebron James to town to play on our new WNBA team in Philly! We’d get a ring and a parade down Broad Street immediately,” chortled one user. The president’s history of outlandish statements continues to draw opinion.
HAHAHA, Maybe we’re bringing Lebron James to town to play on our new WNBA team in Philly!
We’d get a ring and a parade down Broad Street immediately 😂 https://t.co/iN1w6bnFWi
— Fast Eddie Caiazzo (@EddieCaiazzo) August 5, 2026
“One of his most insane quotes ever lol.” discussed another X user.
One of his most insane quotes ever lol https://t.co/2bMHBjvLlt
— Mike Mekus (@mmekus18) August 5, 2026
Including James in the dialogue with the comments had a deeper meaning. Recently, the president mentioned that he prefers Michael Jordan over James, possibly due in part to the latter’s social justice crusade and to his use of a massive platform to draw attention to civil rights issues. Meanwhile, Jordan was heavily criticized for shying away from political controversy by stating that “Republicans buy sneakers, too”
While the video may be older, its resurfacing comes at a time when the WNBA is as popular as ever but still contends with controversy.
