President Trump made a wide-ranging speech at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention, touching on several topics including energy policy, foreign relations, immigration, and the economy. Among the more unusual comments was his critique of a major sports trade that took place last year, involving the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Speaking at the American Airlines Center, the home arena of the Mavericks, Trump expressed confusion and disapproval over the trade that sent star player Luka Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and a future draft pick. “I must tell you, I don't understand the trade. That trade is not good,” he said, adding that it “might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports.” Trump acknowledged that the infamous 1919 trade of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees likely still held the title of the worst trade in sports history. He joked that he might have been able to improve on that deal, saying, “I redo deals all the time. … I understand deals. But that one, I didn't quite get.” The Mavericks’ decision to trade Dončić, who is now 27, drew criticism from many fans who felt the team was giving up its franchise player for uncertain future benefits. The team is primarily owned by the Miriam Adelson family, a major Republican donor and owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino company, who have close ties with Trump. This is not the first time Trump has used his public platform to comment on sports-related issues. He has previously criticized the NFL’s decision to change kickoff rules, expressing frustration over the draft selection of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of former NFL star Deion Sanders. Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that NFL owners were “STUPID” for not selecting Sanders earlier, saying he should have been “picked IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN.” Sanders was eventually chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the draft. Earlier this year, Trump also urged FIFA to review a one-match suspension of U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, though he later clarified he had not directly instructed the organization to take that action.