White House

ESPN host Jalen Rose tells TMZ Sports he wishes Donald Trump would stop going after his colleague Jemele Hill ... and focus on the "bigger issues" in our country.

The former NBA star is one of the more prominent figures on the network -- so with Trump tweeting about his co-worker, we asked for his thoughts.

"I just wish the President would focus on the larger issues we have to deal with in our country ... straight up, real talk ... as a tax paying citizen."

The Pittsburgh Penguins stopped by the White House to celebrate their latest Stanley Cup title Tuesday ... and President Trump took a jab at the Golden State Warriors right off the bat.

"By the way, everybody wanted to be here today," Trump said ... clearly referring to his beef with Steph Curry and uninviting the Dubs to the Oval Office.

President Trump's visit to a Las Vegas hospital got one of the mass shooting victims to stand at attention ... even on his injured leg.

Thomas Gunderson is one of the victims the President and First Lady met Wednesday in Vegas. Gunderson says he was running toward Mandalay Bay Sunday night when one of the shooter's rounds pierced his leg.

Despite his horrific injury Gunderson pulled himself up onto his feet when the Trumps entered his hospital room. As he put it ... "I will always respect my country, my president and my flag."

And there's this poignant image -- Air Force One taking off from Vegas, right behind the still bullet-riddled Mandalay Bay suite where the shooter opened fire.

America's terrorist organization isn't a four-letter word, it's only three ... as in the NRA, according to Public Enemy's Chuck D.

Chuck's outrage was obvious when we asked how he was feeling about the mass shooting in Las Vegas -- and he's laying blame squarely at President Trump's feet. As far as he's concerned, the administration's blindly backing the NRA ... even in the wake of atrocities.

Still, PE's frontman sounded hopeful things will eventually change ... but says it's on the next generation to make it happen.

Evan Rachel Wood had a message for Steve Bannon ... and it was written all over her.

The "Westworld" star was at LAX Sunday, and we asked if she had more to say after the ousted White House Chief Strategist called out Hollywood celebs, saying they're "dumb as ticks. And they're lazy."

Evan responded in a series of tweets ... essentially saying Hollywood's using its platform to shed light on social injustice, and speaking for those who don't have the same platform. But she wasn't done.

The White House became a pink house Sunday to raise awareness for breast cancer ... and Melania Trump's got a great view.

The First Lady tweeted a photo from inside the White House Sunday night, which was illuminated in pink lighting to kick off the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The timing is nothing short of uncanny ... Julia Louis-Dreyfus just announced last week that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her sixth Emmys win for "Veep." She didn't reveal what stage she's in ... but she did take the opportunity to call for universal health care.

Nothing says "You Can't Sit With Us" like Donald Trump's 3 predecessors crashing the Presidents Cup to watch the first tee shots -- sans the current Prez ... who loves golf.

Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton attended the trophy presentation together Thursday at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, before the foursome matches kicked off between America and its international competition.

The ex-Presidents looked super chummy, greeting the crowd and shaking hands. The irony, of course, is Prez Trump is a big-time golfer, and even has a golf course just 40 miles away from where the ex-Presidents were chilling.

Then again, Trump has bigger things to worry about now -- while these guys have done their duty already.

2 Chainz is calling for people to "pledge allegiance on one knee" -- in a direct response to Donald Trump ... and it's all part of a new song with NBA star Victor Oladipo.

The Indiana Pacers star just dropped his 2nd single called "Rope a Dope" (dude can really sing) -- and it features a rap verse from Tity Boi himself.

A rep tells TMZ Sports the song "serves as a response to President Donald Trump's attack on athletes who have been kneeling during the National Anthem."

"I wanted to address what was going on and bring awareness to it, but in a positive manner,"Oladipo says.

"We need to come together as a country to deal with these problems. We aren't going to solve anything unless we're united."

Pat Tillman's widow is breaking her silence -- saying her husband fought and died for American rights such as freedom to protest ... even when you don't agree.

Marie Tillman broke her silence about the issue after Donald Trump retweeted a post that included the ex-NFL star turned solider -- along with the hashtag #StandForOurAnthem.

"As a football player and soldier, Pat inspired countless Americans to unify," Tillman wrote in a statement to CNN.

"Pat’s service, along with that of every man and woman's service, should never be politicized in a way that divides us."

Then she dropped this -- "The very action of self expression and the freedom to speak from one’s heart -- no matter those views -- is what Pat and so many other Americans have given their lives for. Even if they didn’t always agree with those views."

"It is my sincere hope that our leaders both understand and learn from the lessons of Pat's life and death, and also those of so many other brave Americans."

President Trump's under fire from Marc Anthony ... who's begging the commander-in-chief to turn his attention away from NFL player protests -- and toward the crisis in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

Marc is pissed off and bluntly called out Trump, saying ..."Mr. President shut the f**k up about NFL. Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American citizens too."

The singer's anger stems from the humanitarian crisis in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The island's power grid remains crippled, a massive dam is crumbling, hospitals don't have running water and there's extremely limited communication.

Marc has joined his ex, Jennifer Lopez's efforts to send aid to the island -- but, clearly, he's screaming for POTUS to get on board too.

Donald Trump was defending the honor of the American flag when he called for NFL owners to fire any "son of a bitch" who doesn't stand during the national anthem ... this according to the White House press secretary.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders just fired back at reporters during a White House press briefing -- where she was asked if Trump's 'S.O.B.' comments crossed the line.

"It's always appropriate for the president of this country to promote our flag," Sanders said.

LeBron James says people who voted for Donald Trump made a mistake -- but it's okay, because even LeBron makes mistakes.

The NBA superstar spoke with reporters at Cavs media day and refused to say Trump's name -- or even call him the President. Bron repeatedly referred to him as "that guy."

James accused "that guy" of using sports to try and divide the country -- and he says he'll do everything in his power to fight back.

Then he dropped this ...

"If you voted for him or not, you may have made a mistake, and that's okay."

"If you voted for him, it's okay. I mean I've done things for my kids and realized I shouldn't have given my daughter that many damn Skittles. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. She won't go to sleep now."

Colin Kaepernick doesn't seem to be phased by President Trump calling him a "son of a bitch" -- he surfaced in NYC on Monday on his way to the gym ... and he looks ready to play.

Kaepernick smiled when asked how he felt about the scores of NFL players who took a knee on Sunday following the national anthem protest he started last year -- but the smile faded when he was asked about Trump's newest comments.

The ex-49ers quarterback was decked out in gym gear -- wearing a shirt that says "dope" -- and looked like he's put on some serious muscle mass since last season.

There were questions about his weight and if he's actually training to get back into the league. He definitely looks the part here.

Kaep was with his girlfriend, Nessa -- one of the biggest radio personalities in the country.

Not all NASCAR people are siding with Trump -- with Dale Earnhardt Jr. throwing his support behind NFL protesters ... despite several NASCAR owners bashing them.

After POTUS said NFL owners should fire any "son of a bitch" who takes a knee, two of the most powerful men in NASCAR gave major stamps of approval.

Richard Petty said, "Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period."

Team owner Richard Childress was asked what he would do if any of his staffers protested the anthem -- "Get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over."

But Earnhardt -- hands down the most popular NASCAR driver of the last 10 years -- sees things differently ... and weighed in Monday morning with a quote from John F. Kennedy.

"All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests," Dale Jr. tweeted.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

As for Trump, POTUS praised the NASCAR community early Monday morning.

Morgan Freeman's pissed off all of Russia and is now public enemy #1 at the Kremlin ... if you're buying what Russia's state news is selling, anyway.

Freeman is getting blasted by the media over there for starring in a Rob Reiner-produced video that calls out Vladimir Putin for interfering in the U.S. elections, and President Trump for not responding to the cyber attack.

News outlets are now labeling him "Hysterical Freeman" ... bringing in psychiatrists who say he has a "Messianic complex" from playing God and the President. Russian film director Yuri Grymov said, "I think, the grandpa just got drunk" -- and one anchor reportedly dismissed Morgan as an overworked pothead.

Anyway, here's the video that's bumped 'Shawshank Redemption' from Russian cable for good.

Side note: Imagine if our Prez really did rock double earrings.

Gisele had no time for questions about her husband, Tom Brady, possibly being stopped from visiting the White House because of Ivanka Trump ... her mind was worlds away.

Paps got Tom's Brazilian model wife beelining it Tuesday to a car that was on its way to the United Nations Headquarters building in NYC, where she attended a meeting of the Global Pact for the Environment. She's big on protecting Mother Earth.

She was mum on Anthony Scaramucci's strong intimation she blocked Tom from visiting Donald Trump because he might've dated his daughter back in the day ... sources close to Ivanka say she was tight with Tom but they never hooked up. For his part Donald wished back in 2004 the 2 would get together.