President Trump rocked Twitter Sunday with remarks slamming LaVar Ball, the father of one of the three UCLA college basketball players arrested in China for shoplifting who were released last week following a presidential intervention. Mr. Ball sparked Trump's anger after questioning how instrumental the president's efforts were in resolving the issue.
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) 19 ноября 2017 г.
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) 19 ноября 2017 г.
In an interview on Friday, Ball refused to recognize Trump's role in releasing his son and the two other players, who faced up to 5-10 years in a Chinese jail, according to the president. "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out," Ball told ESPN.
Trump's remarks, particularly the "I should have left them in jail!" line, has sparked Twitter rage from his detractors.
Trump says he should've left three Americans in a Chinese jail because the father of one of the boys is insufficiently appreciative. What?!? Your job is to protect American citizens whether or not they kiss your ring.
— Touré (@Toure) 19 ноября 2017 г.
Obama brought home military deserter, Bowe Bergdahl, aware of the backlash this could cause, because he understood no American should be imprisoned in a foreign state. Think about this as Trump declares, “He should’ve left them in jail,” because the Ball family didn’t thank him.
— X (@XLNB) 19 ноября 2017 г.
So, you would just leave an american in Jail? Whether they get out depends on how profusely they thank you? Thats so Un-American and Un-Christian its beyond the pale
— Ron L Pitts™ (@RonLPitts) 19 ноября 2017 г.
Right, because the only reason to do something as President is for the accolades. Makes sense.
— Tom Bonier (@tbonier) 19 ноября 2017 г.
However, supporters defended the president, saying he has a right to be angry, given his actions in getting the players out jail.
We can’t concern ourselves with the left’s level of hate. It consumes their very being. America trusts our President to do the right thing. And he did! Thank you President Trump. #MAGA
— CC (@ChristiChat) 19 ноября 2017 г.
LaVar Ball is the kind of father who lives through his kids. Trump was nice enough to get LiAngelo out of jail and LaVar had the nerve to call it no big deal.
— Educating Liberals (@Education4Libs) 20 ноября 2017 г.
If Trump didn't get LiAngelo out of jail, LaVar Ball would be crying about his troublesome son still being in jail and Trump doing nothing about it.
— Educating Liberals (@Education4Libs) 20 ноября 2017 г.
They’ve gone so far with this “Trump is a Nazi.” and “Trump is a racist.” crap that they are blind to anything that Trump does. This is NOT a normal political environment.
— Joey Mannarino (@Realjmannarino) 19 ноября 2017 г.
Some users also complained about alleged media bias, saying that Trump's tweets got more coverage than his diplomatic efforts in freeing the players. They were met with remarks from users suggesting the president is the one fueling the media frenzy through his incessant use of Twitter.
The media has covered Trump’s LaVar Ball tweet three times as much as they covered him helping the 3 UCLA get out of spending years in a communist China jail.
— No Soy Boys Allowed (@krisp__y) 20 ноября 2017 г.
PLEASE, focus on your job as president.
— Troy McPeek (@goateeone) 19 ноября 2017 г.
The three players- LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, were arrested on November 7 and released the next day, but ordered to stay in China pending the results of a police investigation. On November 14, they were allowed to leave the country, and flew back home to the US. The next day, Trump complained about a lack of thanks for his intervention. Trump completed a 12 day tour of five Asian countries last week, visiting with leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines and taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.
Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 15 ноября 2017 г.
