NBA superstar LeBron James issued a short, sharp and dismissive response to Donald Trump’s latest attack on him following the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
Trump had lashed out at James, accusing the athlete of disrespect after he appeared to stretch during the national anthem ahead of the 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks.
“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,” Trump railed on his Truth Social platform.
The president also seized on the moment during a 2026 midterm election campaign rally in Iowa, calling it “a big scandal kind of a story.”
President Trump calls out LeBron James and WNBA teams over their actions surrounding the national anthem during his Iowa rally.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 23, 2026
Trump criticizes WNBA teams for leaving the court before the anthem, warning that the league could hurt its growing popularity. He then turns to James,… pic.twitter.com/P9A2qbSdmb
The broadsides renewed a years-old feud between the pair that notably saw James dub Trump a “bum” in 2017.
James, asked about Trump’s comments following Thursday’s game, had a succinct response:
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“It must be a slow news day at the office, you know, slow news day in the office.”
Watch the moment on 6abc Philadelphia’s YouTube channel.
James’ dismissal of the president’s attack predictablydrew irefrom pro-Trump accounts on social media.