Philadelphia 76ers superstar and NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James made his debut for the franchise on Tuesday night against the reigning champion New York Knicks. Philly won the game, spoiling the Knick’s ring night, but the contest has gone viral for a pregame moment that has gone viral and taken the internet by storm.
As the anthem played at Madison Square Garden, a video posted by ClutchPoints showed James swinging his arms as if he was practicing a golf swing, and then going through his shooting motion.
James faced backlash on social media from a number of conservative pundits, and on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump weighed in.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump posted on his Truth Social.
Trump: “While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country! 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! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2026
“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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
James has long been a target for conservatives, stretching back to his criticism of President Donald Trump during his first term, which has previously led Trump to question if James was “racist.”
“And I think LeBron… Maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
The President did not elaborate on why he would suggest that James could be a racist, but his feelings toward the forward almost certainly colored his decision to blast the forward for fidgeting during the national anthem.
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