Trump Calls LeBron James a ‘Disgrace’ Over National Anthem Stance

PHILADELPHIA — President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized LeBron James, alleging that the NBA star showed disrespect toward the United States by continuing to warm up during the national anthem before Philadelphia’s season opener Tuesday.

“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump wrote in a social media post that shared video of the moment. “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!”

As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played Tuesday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, James appeared to practice a golf swing and take jump shots. Starting his first season with Philadelphia, he stood in line with teammates who largely remained still throughout the anthem.

Trump and James have criticized one another for years, periodically exchanging public attacks.

“It must be a slow news day at the office,” James said. “Slow news day at the office.”

The 41-year-old James, playing in his record 24th NBA season, finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds Thursday night as Philadelphia defeated the Cavaliers 114-106 in the biggest comeback victory of his career. The Sixers overcame a 29-point deficit in their home opener.

Before the game, James placed his arms behind his back and lowered his head while Boyz II Men performed the anthem. He was later introduced to a thunderous ovation from a crowd of roughly 20,000.

Since training camp began, coach Nick Nurse had repeatedly stressed the importance of blocking out distractions. Hours before Philadelphia’s home opener, the Sixers faced another one — this time from the president.

“I think that goes right in with other outside noise we’ve already had,” Nurse said before the game. “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.”

Trump revisited the issue Thursday night during a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa.

“And what about LeBron James? Did you see that deal?” Trump said. “No, he’s doing, during the national anthem he’s practicing his golf swing. I said what the hell is that. It’s a big scandal kind of a story. I don’t understand it.”

James has previously found himself at the intersection of sports, politics and social issues on several notable occasions.

In 2017, while playing for Cleveland, James made a statement through his footwear. He wore one black shoe and one white shoe, each featuring the word “equality” in large gold lettering on the back.

After the game, James also addressed Trump, saying: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”

James had referred to Trump as a “bum” on Twitter. Earlier that season, he also criticized the president, saying: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”

James continued speaking publicly about social issues and the country’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the four-time NBA champion over comments he made in 2018.

“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said. “I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”

James cited Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who had spoken out for equality and change without worrying about the consequences or seeking rewards.

“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.

James said in 2019 that former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey “was either misinformed or not really educated on the situation” regarding the potential consequences of his actions when he tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.

“Yes, we do have freedom of speech,” James said. “But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself. I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke.”

Morey deleted the tweet, but it nonetheless sparked a rift with the Chinese government, which severed ties with the NBA for several years.

James was named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 in large part for leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship and helping to persuade many people who had never voted — at the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement — to head to the polls.

“I still know what I do on the floor and obviously, I give everything to the game,” James said. “But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”

AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview. Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”

James, naturally, rejected the criticism.

“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.

Associated Press writers Collin Binkley in Washington and Darlene Superville in Sioux City, Iowa, contributed to this report.