First lady Melania Trump took a different tack from her husband Saturday, offering support for NBA star LeBron James and the school he started for at-risk youth.
“It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today,” the first lady’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement, reported USA Today.
The first lady also offered to visit the Ohio grade school started by the LeBron James Family Foundation. “Her platform centers around visiting organizations, hospitals and schools, and she would be open to visiting the I Promise School in Akron,” Grisham said.
James became the target Friday of a late-night tweet by President Trump, who commented on his CNN interview with Don Lemon, calling Lemon “the dumbest man on television” and saying Lemon “made LeBron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!”
The first lady wasn’t the only public figure to praise James in the wake of Trump’s tweet. Michael Jordan, assumed to be whom Trump referred to, also weighed in.
“I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community,” Jordan said through a spokesman, per Sports Illustrated.
CNN’s public relations team fired back at the president, referring to the first lady’s anti-cyberbullying campaign #BeBest in its response.
Sounds like @FLOTUS had the remote last night. ? We hope you both saw the incredible work of @KingJames. #BeBesthttps://t.co/3Ok0z9Z6Ro
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 4, 2018
The response referenced an report last week that Trump ordered staff to play Fox News on Air Force One upon finding the first lady’s television showing CNN. At the time, a spokeswoman for the first lady said it’s silly to worry what she watches, but that she watches “any channel she wants.”
