U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded an apology from NBA star LeBron James, saying the player disrespected the country by continuing to stretch and warm up while the U.S. national anthem was played.
Trump posted a video of James' actions on his social media platform Truth Social on the 22nd, writing that "LeBron James disrespected our Country during the playing of our National Anthem."
He went on to say he had called James a poor figure from the start, calling him a "TOTAL DISGRACE." Trump also urged the player to apologize to the great American warriors and heroes who gave their lives for the American flag and everything the country stands for.
The scene at issue occurred on the 20th at the season opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, the first game of the 2026-2027 season. James made motions resembling a golf swing and a basketball shot while the anthem was playing, in contrast to other players around him, most of whom stood still.
The dispute also draws attention because Trump has long taken a hard line against protest gestures by athletes during the anthem. During his first term, he sharply criticized National Football League player Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the anthem in 2016 to protest racial discrimination.
James and Trump have a long history of friction. James campaigned for Democratic candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and continued to speak out on racial discrimination and political division after Trump took office.
In 2017, when Trump clashed with players over a White House invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, James publicly denounced the president. The following year, Trump hit back by posting comments on social media mocking James' intelligence over an interview the player gave to CNN anchor Don Lemon.
James has not issued an official response to Trump's latest criticism and demand for an apology.