LeBron James again calls Trump a 'bum,' salutes NFL national anthem protests

CLEVELAND — Basketball star LeBron James doubled down on his criticism of President Donald Trump in a press conference with reporters in Cleveland on Monday after Trump criticized James's friend and on-court rival, Stephen Curry.

"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!" James wrote in a weekend tweet.

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!

Given the chance to soften his statements, James, once again, called Trump a bum.

“He is a bum,” James told reporters during the Cleveland Cavaliers’s media day. “He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country. He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president.”

During his conversation Monday with reporters, James praised the NFL players who chose to silently protest before Sunday's game. At one point, he chastised Trump by saying that he for "damn sure" didn't run the country.

"The people run this country, not one individual, and damn sure not him," James said.

LeBron James: "The people run this country. Not one individual. And damn sure not him." pic.twitter.com/b82ojpXkZt

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