Donald Trump's latest threats over Twitter are pretty shocking, even by his standards.
The U.S. president has lashed out at LaVar Ball, father of one of the three UCLA basketball players who were recently detained in China on shoplifting charges.
College freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, have been freed, and arrived back in Los Angeles last week — days after Trump brought up the issue to Chinese president, Xi Jinping, during his Asia trip. The players thanked him in their media address the day after arriving home.
But Trump is taking issue over Ball downplaying his role in getting the three players out of detention. When asked about the matter, Ball told ESPN: "Who? What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."
Trump expressed his disdain in a series of tweets, but also lashed out at the boys in the process.
"LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son...I should have left them in jail!" Trump said in a tweet on Sunday.
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
Hours later, he wasn't done. Trump tweeted another similar statement, saying he "should have gotten his son [LiAngelo] out" during his next trip to China, adding that LaVar was "very ungrateful!"
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
"How can someone in such a big office be so small?"
Trump's tweet quickly caught the attention of the Twittersphere, with many pointing out how petty his response was.
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
Literally hundreds of State, DOD, and other federal employees stationed abroad have countless stories of quietly assisting Americans in trouble abroad. Not for glory or credit, but just because they were compatriots and it was right. https://t.co/UTS6470KD8
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) November 19, 2017
Right, because the only reason to do something as President is for the accolades. Makes sense.
— Tom Bonier (@tbonier) November 19, 2017
This is @POTUS, tweeting that he should’ve left three collegiate athletes in a Chinese jail because one of their fathers displayed insufficient fealty to him. Focus on that, and not him picking a fight. Focus on the behavior that is unacceptable. https://t.co/ZSncjdJP27
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 19, 2017
The three college players were arrested on Nov. 8 after on charges of stealing designer sunglasses from a shopping mall.
All three players later thanked Trump at a press conference, and apologised for their actions.
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) November 15, 2017
Trump then responded, saying he accepted their thanks and told them to "have a great life."
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
All three players have since been suspended from the team, with UCLA coach Steve Alford saying the suspension was "indefinite".
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