Washington: A 2022 comment by Donald Trump involving NBA superstar LeBron James has resurfaced amid a growing debate over transgender participation in women's sports. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute in July 2022, Trump jokingly imagined himself coaching a WNBA team and said he would approach James about joining his squad.
According to Ghana Web, Trump expressed his preference for Michael Jordan over James but claimed he would still want the four-time NBA champion on his hypothetical women's team. Trump stated, "I'd be the greatest women's basketball coach in history. 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.'"
Trump further elaborated on how having LeBron on his team would lead to unprecedented success, saying, "I'll have the greatest team in history. They'll never lose. Nobody will come within 70 points of this team." He added that there is a need to change the conversation around such topics.
The remarks have resurfaced as the WNBA finds itself at the center of a fresh discussion about transgender athletes and participation in women's sports. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recently drew attention after wearing a shirt reading "Trans kids belong," amid a wider disagreement over the issue. Reeve has argued that transgender children should have access to sport while acknowledging that questions become more complicated beyond puberty and in elite competition.
Reeve stated, "We have some issues. Number one, we need to protect trans kids. Every kid to me, it's a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports regardless of being gender diverse, transgender." The debate has also drawn criticism from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who said he no longer wanted to cover the WNBA because of the controversy surrounding the league.