On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many prominent African-Americans have given their thoughts on the current state of race in the United States. For NBA star LeBron James, he didn't hold back when speaking about Donald Trump.

LeBron on Trump

Donald Trump denies being a racist but that hasn't stopped his critics from doubling down on the allegations against him. It all started during Trump's speech to announce his campaign for president when he referred to illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." In the months that followed, Trump promoted controversial policies for immigration reform, like the possibility of deporting 11 million illegal immigrants, while calling on Mexico to fund a border wall.

The majority of the mainstream media and critics of the president have piled on, accusing him of being a "racist" and a "white nationalist," though Trump has continued to push back. Over the last week, Trump has come under fire after reportedly speaking out against helping immigrants from countries like Haiti and El Salvador, referring to those nations as a "sh*thole." On Monday, Trump tweeted out a short video in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before heading off to Florida to play a few rounds of golf. While Trump was golfing, others had a few words about King and the president, including LeBron James, as reported by Fox Business on January 15.

While speaking to reporters before his game with the Cleveland Cavaliers vs the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James opened up about Martin Luther King Jr.

and Donald Trump. "He actually gave up his life, for the betterment of all of us to be able to live in a free world," James said of King, before adding, "He literally took a bullet for us."

In regards to Donald Trump, whose name he couldn't even utter LeBron James made his thoughts loud and clear.

"The guy (Trump) in control has given people and racism an opportunity to be outspoken without fear,” James said, accusing the president of "allow(ing) people to come out and just feel confident about doing negative things." "I don’t want to use the word stupidity, but that’s basically what it has come down to," he added. James has been vocal in the past with his feelings about Trump, most notably in support of Stephen Curry after the president took at shot at him on Twitter.

Next up

While many around the country speak out against Donald Trump, the president has been defiant in his defense of not being a racist. "I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed," Trump told reporters on Sunday night. Though Trump claims to be the commander in chief for all Americans, his current approval rating sits at just 35 percent.
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