FLASHBACK: Trump’s LeBron James Quip Takes WNBA Trans Debate To Another Level

A clip of President Donald Trump from July 2022 is making the rounds on social media again as the WNBA’s transgender sports controversy boils over.

Read more Fauci Held In Contempt After Refusing To Answer Questions About Bombshell Diary

Speaking at the America First Policy Institute on July 26, 2022, the former president cracked that he’d be the “greatest woman’s basketball coach in history” by luring LeBron James into the WNBA.

“I’d be the greatest woman’s basketball coach in history,” Trump quipped.”Because I don’t like LeBron James. I like Michael Jordan much better. But I’d go up to LeBron James. It doesn’t matter. I’d say, ‘LeBron, did you ever have any desire to be a woman? Because what I’d love you to do is star on my team that I’m building up.’”

“I will have the greatest team in history,” he continued. “They’ll never lose. Nobody will come within 70 points of this team.”

The clip is going viral again after WNBA player Sophie Cunningham took a stand on keeping men out of women’s sports during an ESPN profile interview last month. Cunningham’s comments sparked backlash from WNBA coaches, players, and at least one co-owner.

Trump’s suggestion to bring James into the WNBA was part of a years-long feud between the president and the billionaire ballplayer.

The feud stretches back to September 2017, when Golden State Warriors sharp-shooter Steph Curry hesitated on a White House visit following the team’s NBA title. Trump formally revoked the invite, prompting James to jump into the paint and label the president a “bum,” declaring that visiting the White House was an honor “until you showed up!”

Read more Actress Says Taylor Sheridan Offers Stars Two Choices

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

From there, the gloves came off. James took to the airwaves in early 2018, telling Cari Champion and Kevin Durant that Trump “doesn’t give a f*ck about the people.” Months later, James sat down with CNN’s Don Lemon, accusing the president of using athletics to divide the nation.

Trump wasted no time clapping back, famously tweeting that Lemon was “the dumbest man on television” who somehow “made LeBron look smart, which isn’t easy to do,” before declaring his loyalty to a different GOAT: “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 4, 2018

The rivalry only intensified as social and political movements swept the nation. In August 2020, James wore a modified MAGA hat demanding the arrest of the police officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death. Just two months later on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show, Trump slammed James as a “nasty spokesman” for the Democratic Party, contending his political activism was killing NBA TV ratings because fans didn’t want to watch “a guy that hates your guts.”

The hostility peaked in April 2021 when James posted a controversial “YOU’RE NEXT” tweet aimed at an Ohio police officer who fatally shot a teenager while saving another girl from being stabbed. Trump ripped James for his “RACIST rants,” calling them divisive, insulting, and damaging to the sport.

Read more EXCLUSIVE: Blue State Hospital Bows To DOJ, Ends Trans Procedures For Kids