Former US president Donald Trump has called LeBron James' rants "divisive" and "racist" following the basketball player's now-deleted post about police officer Nicholas Reardon.

On Tuesday, James posted a tweet to his near-50 million Twitter followers of Reardon - the Columbus police officer who shot dead Ohio teenager Ma’Khia Bryant.

Bryant, 16, was killed after officers responded to a 911 call on Tuesday afternoon. She was fatally shot while involved in a physical altercation with another person. Per NBC News, police say bodycam footage shows her attempting to stab somebody pushed against a car.

Then, following the guilty verdict of George Floyd's killer, Derek Chauvin, the LA Lakers star shared a photo of Reardon, along with the caption: "you’re next #accountability".

The post has since been deleted with James responding to the backlash in follow-up tweets, in which he wrote:

"I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. it’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY

"ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself! Gathering all the facts and educating does though! My anger still is here for what happened that lil girl. My sympathy for her family and may justice prevail!"

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Now, per The Independent, Donald Trump has issued a statement to James.

Shared by journalist Ben Jacobs, the statement reads: "LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA, which has just recorded the lowest television ratings, by far, in the long and distinguished history of the league.

"His racist rants are divisive, nasty, insulting and demeaning.

"He may be a great basketball player, but he is doing nothing to bring our country together."

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An investigation into the death of Bryant is currently underway, The Independent reports. In the meantime, officials have confirmed that Reardon - who has been a Columbus police officer since December 2019 - is currently on leave.

Additionally, per NBC News, Bryant's family said the following about the teenager in a statement:

"Ma'Khia was a good student, a good person, and did not deserve what happened to her. We want to remind everyone Ma'Khia was only a 16 year old teenage girl.

"We are deeply disturbed by the disproportionate and unjustified use of force in this situation."

Featured image credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Bob Daemmrich Photography/Alamy

Donald Trump brands LeBron James' rants 'racist' following 'you're next' tweet