"Listen to LeBron": Barack Obama thanks LeBron James for advocating Kamala Harris in the US Presidential race
Aside from being among the biggest names in the NBA, LeBron James is also a prominent figure in popular culture. His recent comments regarding a big topic in the United States warranted a positive response from a former president.
Next week, Americans will vote in the presidential election. Over the past few weeks, countless celebrities have endorsed both candidates, the LA Lakers star being the latest.
On Thursday evening, LeBron James posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) that included snippets of Donald Trump and people at his rallies. The 20-time All-Star captioned the video in support of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Among those who reacted to this post was former President Barack Obama. He implored votes to follow the example set by the Lakers forward.
"Thank you @KingJames for using your voice to make clear what’s at stake. Listen to LeBron, make sure you vote."
Aside from serving two terms as president, Obama has long been a fan of the NBA. Having spent most of his political career in Illinois, he is an avid fan of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
LeBron James has spoken out against Donald Trump in the past
Endorsing Kamal Harris this week is not the first time LeBron James has spoken out against Donald Trump over the years. During Trump's first term as president (2017 to 2021), the NBA icon had some choice words about his actions.
During an interview with CNN in the summer of 2018, LeBron shared his thoughts on the then-president. He claimed that Trump was trying to create a greater divide in the country, and using sports to do so.
"He's dividing us" LeBron said. "And what I noticed over the last few months. That he has kind of used sport to kind of devide us, and that's something I can't relate to."
These comments from LeBron James came around when Trump spoke against numerous pro athletes. He targeted former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem and came after Steph Curry.
Trump's feud with the former MVP came when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title for the first time during his presidency. After numerous members of the team declined the invitation to the White House, Trump posted on social media stating that Curry was uninvited.
Trump has struggled to find any public supporters across the NBA landscape. Aside from LeBron, another notable figure endorsing Harris is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.