President Donald Trump used a speech at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention in Dallas to criticise the Dallas Mavericks' 2025 trade of star player Luka Dončić, calling it a deal he "didn't understand" and suggesting it "might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports." The remarks, delivered at American Airlines Center — Dončić's former home arena — struck a chord with the crowd, reflecting the widespread anger among Mavericks fans over the departure of their franchise player just months after he had led the team to the 2024 NBA Finals.

Dončić was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025 along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, a move orchestrated by general manager Nico Harrison, who was later ousted from the role. Trump noted that Babe Ruth's trade from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees remains, in his view, the worst in sports history, but joked about "redoing" the Dončić deal. Since joining the Lakers, Dončić has averaged 31.9 points, 8.1 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game.