Trump Accuses LeBron James of Disrespecting US Anthem

US President Donald Trump has accused NBA star LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the basketball player appeared to practise his golf swing and basketball shots while the national anthem was performed before a Philadelphia 76ers game against the New York Knicks.

Trump criticised James in a social media post on Thursday, following footage of the player moving during the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump wrote.

He also described the basketball star as a “TOTAL DISGRACE” and demanded that he apologise to American military personnel and others who had died serving the country.

“LeBron James should apologise to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag,” Trump added.

The video showed James standing alongside his teammates while appearing to perform stretching movements and imitate a golf swing as the anthem was sung. Most of the other players remained relatively still during the performance.

James Yet to Respond

James had not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks at the time of reporting. The BBC said it had contacted the 76ers for comment.

The 41-year-old is one of the most prominent figures in American basketball and has frequently spoken about social and political issues during his career.

The controversy has drawn attention because of his longstanding disagreements with Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the athlete over his public statements and political positions.

Longstanding Feud Between Trump and James

The president and the basketball star have exchanged criticism for years, particularly since the 2016 presidential election, when James supported Trump’s political opponents.

In 2018, Trump questioned James’s intelligence after the athlete said he would never sit across from the president. James responded by accusing Trump of giving racists an opportunity to express themselves more openly.

James has also criticised Trump’s rhetoric and suggested it contributed to the atmosphere surrounding the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. He supported former president Joe Biden during the 2020 election.

Trump has continued to make negative comments about James. In July, when asked to choose between James and basketball legend Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time, Trump said he preferred Jordan.

“I only like people that like me,” he said.

National Anthem Controversies in US Sport

The latest dispute has revived debate over how athletes behave during the American national anthem, which is traditionally performed before most professional sporting events in the United States.

Players and spectators are generally expected to stand respectfully where they are able, although approaches to the tradition have become a source of political disagreement.

One of the most prominent controversies began in 2016, when former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later knelt during the anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

Trump strongly criticised Kaepernick at the time and later took credit for the athlete being unable to secure another NFL contract. Years later, Trump said Kaepernick should be given another opportunity to play.

The debate has since become closely associated with wider disagreements about patriotism, racial justice and athletes’ freedom to express political views.

James Begins New Chapter With Philadelphia

James joined the Philadelphia 76ers in July after spending several seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. His move marked another major change in a professional career spanning more than two decades.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has accumulated more than 40,000 career points and won championships with every team he has represented.

His first season with Philadelphia began with the game against the Knicks, which prompted Trump’s criticism. Despite the political controversy, James remains one of the most influential figures in professional basketball.

The dispute has once again placed the relationship between sport, patriotism and political expression in the spotlight, with James yet to publicly address the president’s latest comments.