The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has accused N.B.A star LeBron James of disrespect in the United States after a video showed the Philadelphia 76ers player moving during the national anthem.
James appeared to practice both a golf swing and basketball moves as the US national anthem was played before the 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
In a post on social media, Trump criticized the 41-year-old forward.
He said: “As we listen to our national anthem, LeBron James disrespects our country!
“LeBron James should apologize to all those great American warriors and heroes who died for the American flag.”
Referring to James, Trump added: “I said from the beginning he’s not good, a total disgrace.”
Pregame video footage showed James extending his arms and rolling his shoulders before faking a jump shot, while his teammates stood by him with minimal movement.
James has not publicly commented on Trump’s latest remarks. The exchange is the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between Trump and James, who has regularly endorsed and campaigned for Trump’s political rivals since the 2016 US presidential election.
- 2018: Trump questioned James’ intelligence after the basketball star publicly stated that he would never sit in front of him. In response that year, James accused Trump of giving racists “an opportunity to be outspoken and outspoken without fear.”
- 2021: James suggested that Trump’s rhetoric contributed to the attack on the US Capitol following the 2020 election victory of Joe Biden, whom James had endorsed.
- July 2026: When asked to choose between James and Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever, Trump chose Jordan, explaining, “I only like people I like.”
The playing of the national anthem before major American sporting events has repeatedly served as a political flashpoint.
Trump previously criticized former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice.