Donald Trump says LeBron James should play basketball as a woman in pathetic dig at trans athletes

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Former US president Donald Trump suggested that LeBron James could play basketball as a woman during a bizarre speech in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday (23 July).

He told the crowd that he would “like to have you [James] on my team” if he was coaching a basketball team for the women’s basketball league (WNBA), despite Trump not owning, managing or coaching a WNBA team himself.

Speaking at a summit for Turning Point USA, a non-profit that advocates for “right-wing values” in education, Trump said: “If I were a basketball coach of the women’s team, I would be the greatest coach of all time.

“I’m not a fan of LeBron James at all… I don’t like him, but I’d say ‘LeBron, did you ever think of becoming a woman? Did you ever consider, because I’d like to have you on my team. I’d love to have you on our team, LeBron. But think of it, it’s so crazy what’s happening.”

Trump has previously made similar comments about James playing for a WNBA team, despite him never publicly expressing that he is trans.

In a speech in 2021, he claimed that he would only recruit trans athletes if he was coaching a women’s team due to their so-called “advantage”.

He added: “Somebody said that if LeBron James ever decided to get the operation, how would he be on the court?”

“LeBron, have you ever thought about becoming a woman?”