On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Lavar Ball‘s claim that he had little to do with his son LiAngelo Ball being released by Chinese authorities by suggesting he should have left the younger Ball “in jail.”
“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” he wrote on Twitter. “I should have left them in jail!”
On Friday, LaVar Ball, the father of one of three UCLA basketball players held in China, dismissed the role Trump played in getting his son released by Chinese authorities.
Ball’s son LiAngelo and his fellow UCLA freshmen Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were detained in Hangzhou on Nov. 7 for questioning over allegations of shoplifting.
A reporter asked the outspoken LaVar Ball about Trump’s involvement in getting the players back to the U.S.
READ MORE: UCLA players thank Donald Trump for intervening in China shoplifting arrest
“Who?” LaVar Ball told ESPN Friday. “What was he over there for? Don’t tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out.”
Trump’s social media director Dan Scavino responded to Ball’s comments on Twitter Saturday.
“Wannabe @Lakers coach, BIG MOUTH @Lavarbigballer knows if it weren’t for President @realDonaldTrump, his son would be in China for a long, long, long time! #FACT.”
LaVar Ball’s eldest son, Lonzo Ball, was picked second overall in last June’s NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
READ MORE: LiAngelo Ball among UCLA players arrested in China a day before Donald Trump visit: reports
The UCLA players were detained in China on Nov. 7 after they were accused of shoplifting from three stores.
WATCH: Trump campaigns for release of detained UCLA basketball players with China’s president
They returned to the United States on Nov. 15. That morning Trump said the players should be grateful for his involvement.
“Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!” he tweeted.
The trio apologized later Wednesday and publicly thanked Trump, who was in Asia last week, for his help. On Thursday morning, the president sent another tweet saying, “You’re welcome. go out and give a big ‘thank you’ to President Xi Jinping of China who made your release possible.”
— With files from Associated Press
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