President Donald Trump recently took to social media, again, airing his grievances in response to Lavar Ball's statement about his lack of involvement in assisting the three UCLA basketball players accused of shoplifting in China.
Early Sunday afternoon, Donald Trump voiced his disapproval of Ball’s remarks in a tweet, after Ball claimed the president did nothing to assist the three UCLA basketball players arrested On Nov. 7 in Hangzhou, China, on suspicion of shoplifting, according to The Washington Post.
“Who?” Ball quipped to ESPN’s Arash Markazi when asked about Trump’s involvement in the matter. “What was he over there [on the Asian trip] for? Don’t tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out.” Trump begrudgingly responded:
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
Seeming unsatisfied with his initial response, Trump returned to his favorite venting platform and reiterated his points:
Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar. Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
Last week, Trump made sure everyone knew that he personally intervened in rectifying the circumstance of the players’ arrest. Back to Twitter, again, he requested that the young men thank him for pleading their case to Chinese President Xi Jinping while on his Asia trip:
To the three UCLA basketball players I say: You're welcome, go out and give a big Thank You to President Xi Jinping of China who made…..— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2017
….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
The senior Ball has yet to directly respond to the incentive remarks from the President but did inform a reporter during an interview that, had the president gone to visit the players while in jail, he’d then say “Thank you.”
I read the President's tweets to LaVar Ball just now over the phone & he questioned why the President wasn't focused on more important things.— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) November 20, 2017
pic.twitter.com/RmeVmxoz9I— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 20, 2017
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