President Trump announces support for Jake Paul for political office
President Trump said he would have his “full and complete support” if Jake Paul were to run for political office.
President Donald Trump has breathed new life into an old story in which he allegedly intervened during a fight between Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and nine-year NBA veteran Jason Williams while Bryant and Williams were in New York for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.
In an interview with Jake Paul published on Friday, March 11, President Trump said he had resolved the dispute over “Kobe.”
Trump did not mention Williams by name, but said, “Kobe was having a hard time with someone and it worked out.”
According to New York Times bestselling author Jeff Perlman’s book, “Three Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Days of the Lakers Dynasty,” then-New York Knicks star power forward Charles Oakley was in the elevator when Williams, then with the New Jersey Nets, hit Bryant.
According to Perlman’s book, the elevator was located at the Grand Hyatt in New York, which was owned by Trump at the time.
Oakley said in a phone interview with USA TODAY Sports that he did not remember being in the elevator during the reported incident, but that he did hear Williams mention the fight.
“He was telling some people that I was around,” Oakley said. He is a storyteller. I said to him, “Jason, I mean, you’re 55, 57 years old. We’ve probably told that story 50 times.” ”
Williams, 58, did not respond to email requests for comment and did not return calls from USA TODAY Sports. His voicemail box was full.
Perlman’s book said the altercation reportedly broke out after Bryant entered the elevator occupied by Williams and Oakley, and after Williams greeted Bryant, he became angry at Bryant’s cold reaction and Williams lunged and punched Bryant in the cheek.
“Trump, more than anything, grabbed Williams and told Bryant, ‘Get out of here, quick.'”
According to Perlman’s book, Bryant got off the elevator.
Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020 that also killed his daughter Gianna and seven other people.
