Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James continued his criticism of President Donald Trump over the latter’s response to the recent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying the President has made hate “fashionable again”. On Tuesday, James posted on his Twitter account: “Hate has always existed in America. Yes, we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again! Status has nothing to do with us now!” White nationalists held a rally Friday that turned violent after they clashed with counter-protesters. According to reports, 19 people were injured while one woman died after a man drove a car into the crowd of counter-demonstrators.

Trump criticized for failing to condemn white nationalists

Trump was criticized for his failure to condemn the acts of white nationalists in his initial statement. Days after, Trump lambasted the white nationalists and other racist groups in his second statement issued Monday. According to Trump, “racism and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups are evil and repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.

The President added that those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.

However, Trump also mentioned that there’s a “lot of bad people in the other group, too", referring to the counter-protester. During his Tuesday’s speech, he also boasted about one of his businesses, saying he owns one of the largest wineries in the United States.

Ex-NBA point guard Steve Nash hits Trump

Trump’s pronouncement about his winery did not sit well with former NBA point guard Steve Nash, who criticized the President via Twitter.

Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, tweeted: "To defend white supremacists and then slang his ____ ___ grape juice pretty much sums the man up."

On Saturday, James made his initial criticism of Trump via his Twitter account, calling it a sad day due to what happened in Charlottesville.

This was not the first time James spoke about controversial issues in the country. In 2012, he wore hoodies together with his Miami Heat teammates to commiserate with the family of Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. James also called for the prosecution of Zimmerman.

In 2014, James criticized a grand jury for its refusal to charges against a Ferguson, Missouri police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old, Michael Brown. James himself was a victim of a hate crime when the front gate of his Los Angeles home was spray-painted with a racial slur before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
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