- US President Donald Trump publicly attacked NBA star LeBron James after a video of his pre-game movements during the national anthem circulated online
- Trump posted the clip on Truth Social, demanding James apologise to fallen American soldiers and labelling his actions a 'big scandal'
- James responded after the Philadelphia 76ers' comeback win, dismissing the president's remarks with a brief comment about the news cycle
US President Donald Trump launched a public attack on NBA veteran LeBron James on Thursday, accusing the basketball star of disrespecting the country during the national anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers season opener.
Trump demands public apology from James
Trump shared footage on his Truth Social platform showing James performing what appeared to be lateral swing motions and shooting movements while standing with his Sixers teammates before their Tuesday night clash 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 wrote on Truth Social.
"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!"
A caption visible within the video described James as "working on his golf swing pregame." Trump later escalated the attack at a campaign rally in Iowa the same evening, calling the incident "a big scandal kind of a story."
LeBron dismisses criticism after Sixers win
James, 41, addressed the controversy briefly following Philadelphia's comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-106. "It must be a slow news day at the office," he said. "Slow news day at the office."
The response came after James completed his first game of a record-extending 24th NBA season, now with his fourth team.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse framed Trump's remarks as external noise his squad had already been coached to block out.
"I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had," Nurse said. "I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they've had and the intent and all the stuff like that has been outstanding."
A long-running pattern of presidential criticism
The exchange is not the first between Trump and James. The two have clashed publicly on multiple occasions in the past. Trump has also been a long-standing critic of athletes — particularly Black athletes — who have demonstrated during the "Star-Spangled Banner."
During his first term, Trump repeatedly targeted NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling before games in protest at racial injustice and police brutality.
Source: Briefly News
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