Trump condemns LeBron James over warm-up during US national anthem

President Donald Trump has condemned LeBron James after footage appeared to show the NBA star continuing his warm-up while the US national anthem was played before Philadelphia’s season opener in New York. Trump called James a “TOTAL DISGRACE” in a social media post and demanded an apology to those who had died for the American flag and the country. The video showed James practising what appeared to be a golf swing and a jump shot during The Star-Spangled Banner.

He stood alongside Philadelphia 76ers teammates, most of whom remained still, according to ABC News Australia and Al Jazeera. The reports describe the incident as a perceived lack of respect rather than establishing James’s intention. James, beginning his first season with Philadelphia, had not issued a public response or posted about Trump’s criticism by Thursday afternoon or evening, according to the reports.

He was due to make his home debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers after the controversy. The dispute adds another episode to a long-running public clash between Trump and James. Al Jazeera recalled that James criticized Trump in 2017, calling him “a bum” and arguing that the president did not understand the influence he held over children.

Trump and James have continued to trade occasional public attacks. James has also repeatedly connected his sporting profile with social and political issues. In 2018, after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized his comments, he rejected the instruction to “shut up and dribble,” saying athletes could speak about matters affecting society and young people.

He has cited Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as examples of athletes who used their prominence to advocate for equality and change. Al Jazeera reported that James was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 in part after helping encourage people to vote during the Black Lives Matter movement. His position has not gone unchallenged within sport.

Former AC Milan striker and ex-LA Galaxy player Zlatan Ibrahimovic said in a 2021 interview that James and other athletes were making a mistake by becoming involved in political causes. James rejected that criticism, saying he would not remain silent about things he believed were wrong. The latest controversy was not accompanied in the supplied reports by a statement from James explaining why he continued warming up.

The available material records only what the footage appeared to show and Trump’s reaction, leaving the player’s motive unconfirmed. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said the incident belonged with the other distractions the team had faced since training camp. Before the 76ers’ home opener, he said his priority was keeping players focused on practice, film work and the court, adding that their intent and preparation had been strong.

Trump’s intervention nevertheless placed a political dispute around the team’s opening games. For now, the public disagreement consists of the president’s accusation, footage interpreted as anthem disrespect and James’s lack of a reported reply, against a backdrop of years of arguments over the role of athletes in American public life.