Trump Critiques NBA Trade and Discusses Key Issues at RNC Convention

On September 10, 2026, President Trump addressed the Republican National Committee midterm convention with a speech at the American Airlines Center. During the event, he covered various topics such as oil, Iran, immigration, and an NBA trade that stirred controversy among basketball fans.

The trade in question involved Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić moving to the Los Angeles Lakers last year. Trump expressed skepticism over the decision, stating, “I must tell you, I don’t understand the trade. That trade is not good.” He further commented, “It’s not going to go down as the greatest trade in the history of sports. It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports.” He mentioned the infamous trade of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees as a comparable deal with a long-standing negative reputation.

The deal saw Dončić and two other players traded to the Lakers, while the Mavericks received Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round draft pick. This move garnered criticism from Dallas fans, who lamented the loss of Dončić, the franchise’s 27-year-old star player.

Trump, known for his outspokenness on sports topics, has previously voiced opinions on other sporting debates. He criticized new NFL kickoff rules and publicly questioned the drafting decisions related to quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of Deion Sanders, who was eventually picked by the Cleveland Browns.

Additionally, Trump intervened in international soccer by requesting FIFA review its suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. FIFA reversed the red card decision, despite Trump claiming he did not influence their choice.

The Mavericks are largely owned by the family of Miriam Adelson, a significant GOP donor and owner of the Las Vegas Sands, who maintains a close relationship with Trump.