President Donald Trump escalated his long-running feud with LeBron James on Thursday, demanding that the NBA superstar apologize after accusing him of disrespecting the United States during the national anthem.
Trump posted a video on Truth Social from Tuesday night’s season opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In the clip, James can be seen swinging his arms and mimicking a basketball shot while singer Avery Wilson performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Other Philadelphia players were standing still beside him.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump wrote. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
Years of Public Clashes
The rebuke marks the latest chapter in a clash between the president and the league’s all-time scoring leader that stretches back nearly a decade. James endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and backed Trump’s Democratic opponents in two subsequent presidential elections, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
In 2018, James criticized Trump during an appearance on CNN, telling host Don Lemon that the president was using athletics to divide the nation. Trump responded on Twitter at the time by criticizing Lemon’s intelligence and insulting James.
More recently, Trump reignited the debate in July during remarks in the Oval Office following James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and sign with Philadelphia. When asked about James, Trump favored Michael Jordan as the greater player, calling Jordan a personal friend and golf partner.
“I think LeBron is — maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump,” Trump said in July. “But I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
On-Court Debut in New York
James has not addressed Trump’s latest criticism or publicly commented on his actions during the pregame anthem, People reported. While some critics online echoed Trump’s frustration, numerous fans defended the forward, arguing he was simply stretching his muscles and getting loose before tip-off.
The controversy unfolded during James’ debut with the 76ers, his 24th season in the NBA. During the game, James faced a hostile crowd at Madison Square Garden, where spectators chanted “We don’t want you” while he stood at the foul line, People reported.
The crowd’s reaction followed remarks James made last month, when he disclosed during a team media event that he had once considered finishing his career with the Knicks before choosing Philadelphia.
Despite the chants, James tallied 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to guide the 76ers to a 106-100 victory over the Knicks. Neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor the NBA have issued a statement regarding the president’s remarks, and it remains unclear whether James intends to respond.
