Social media is reacting after President Donald Trump said he should have left three UCLA basketball players locked up in a Chinese jail.
- Media personality LaVar Ball downplays Trump's intervention
- Ball's son was 1 of 3 players held in China over shoplifting allegation
- Some accuse Ball of using Twitter to promote brand
This comes after one of the players’ fathers, LaVar Ball, minimized Trump’s involvement in their release.
The three players — LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill — were arrested on suspicion of stealing from a Louis Vuitton store while their team was playing in China.
When the three returned to the United States last week, they thanked the president. The president even said you’re welcome.
....your release possible and, HAVE A GREAT LIFE! Be careful, there are many pitfalls on the long and winding road of life!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2017
Case closed, right?
Well, then this weekend, LiAngelo's father, LaVar Ball, a well-known media personality, businessman and former athlete, told ESPN he didn’t think the president had much to do with his son’s release.
Trump didn’t like that.
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
“Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!” tweeted President Trump.
The president’s tweet earned him more criticism online.
“The President would have left American students in a foreign jail because their families didn’t lavish sufficient praise on him. How can someone in such a big office be so small?” tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
The President would have left American students in a foreign jail because their families didn’t lavish sufficient praise on him. How can someone in such a big office be so small? https://t.co/g3oa0o9aBU
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 19, 2017
Some suspect Ball, who has started other feuds with athletes and celebrities, started the dispute with the president to bring attention to his sports apparel business.