Donald Trump Calls Lebron James ‘Racist’ For Posting 'Divisive, Nasty, Insulting' Tweet

After LeBron James tweeted a response to the police killing of Ohio teenager Ma'Khia Bryant, Donald Trump called him "racist" and "divisive."

With the caption "you're next #accountability," the Los Angeles Lakers star shared a picture of Nicholas Reardon, the Columbus police officer who shot and killed Bryant when he was 16 years old.

The Hill said James later deleted the post. The deleted tweet echoed his reaction to the guilty verdict in the police killing of George Floyd because he said it was being used to "create more hatred."

"It's about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY," the Los Angeles Lakers player explained.

"LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA, which has just recorded the lowest television ratings, by far, in the long and distinguished history of the league," the former US president said in a statement shared by American journalist Ben Jacobs on Twitter.

Mr Trump, on the other hand, chastised James, accusing him of splitting the country with his remarks.

"His racist rants are divisive, nasty, insulting and demeaning."

"He may be a great basketball player, but he is doing nothing to bring our country together."

Over the last year, James has become a leading figure in the Black Lives Matter movement. He often made remarks asking for justice in incidents involving Black Americans killed by police.

Bryant was shot on Tuesday. Simultaneously, a Minneapolis jury found a white former police officer guilty of kneeling on Floyd's neck and murdering him in May 2020.

The teen's death sparked riots in Columbus. Officials released the body camera footage of the shooting just hours after the incident happened.

In the video, Reardon allegedly approached a fight involving Bryant. When Bryant attempts to lunge at another female, the officer pulls out his pistol and fires four shots shortly after asking what was going on.

Mr. Reardon has been a Columbus police officer since December 2019, according to officials. While the incident is being investigated, he has been put on leave.