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Trump Accuses LeBron James Of Disrespecting The United States During National Anthem
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Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States by warming up during national anthem Videos showed James moving during the anthem before the 76ers' season opener against the Knicks
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Trump targets LeBron
President Donald Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warm-ups while the national anthem was performed before Philadelphia’s season opener on Tuesday. Trump posted on Truth Social that “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” and he urged James to apologize to “Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag.”
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed at Tuesday’s game in New York, with James lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem. James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, had not made a public comment or a social media post as of Thursday afternoon about Trump’s gripe.
Video and the demand
Trump shared a video showing James moving his body during the anthem, with James standing in line with the members of the Philadelphia 76ers and performing basketball shooting movements. Trump also demanded an apology, saying “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag.”
ESPN reported that representatives for James did not respond to requests for comment, while the 76ers representative did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment. The controversy centered on James’s actions during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Madison Square Garden, where James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as the anthem played.
Feud echoes beyond anthem
Trump and James have traded public swipes for years, and Trump has repeatedly criticized athletes for their behaviour during pre-game renditions of the US national anthem. Trump cancelled the planned White House visit of the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 after the team disagreed with his call for players to stand during the anthem, and the same anthem dispute now resurfaced with James.
The dispute also drew attention to James’s political voice, with the sources noting that James became a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and has frequently supported progressive issues. ESPN added that James was set to make his home debut for the Sixers on Thursday night against Cleveland, while the sources continued to frame the latest exchange around Trump’s Truth Social post and the video of James during the anthem.