Trump is going after LeBron James again, this time over what LeBron did during the national anthem before his first game with the Philadelphia 76ers. On Thursday, Trump posted a clip to Truth Social showing LeBron practicing a golf swing and a jump shot while the anthem played, and he did not hold back.
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“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. “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!”
The moment came Tuesday night before the 76ers’ season opener against the Knicks in New York. As Grammy nominated singer Avery Wilson performed The Star Spangled Banner, LeBron stood in line with his new teammates, swinging his arms, taking practice golf swings and going through his shooting form while most of the team stood still. The clip spread quickly online, with conservative accounts calling it disrespectful, and two days later it made its way to Trump.
LeBron James has not responded. As of Thursday afternoon, he had not made a public statement or posted about Trump’s comments, and he has given no indication that what he did during the anthem was meant as any kind of protest. LeBron has become an avid golfer, which is where the swing practice comes in.
This is far from the first round between the two. Back in July, after LeBron surprised everybody by signing a two year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia, Trump was asked in the Oval Office whether he preferred LeBron or Michael Jordan. Trump said Jordan is a friend of his and added, “I think LeBron is maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump.” He also said, “I only like people that like me.”
The feud goes back to Trump’s first term. In 2017, LeBron called Trump “U bum” on Twitter after Trump said he was pulling the Golden State Warriors’ White House invitation, when the team had already said it was not going. The next year, after LeBron told Don Lemon that Trump was using sports to divide the country, Trump tweeted that Lemon “made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.” LeBron said in that same interview that he would never sit across from Trump.
In 2020, when Trump said he turns off the game whenever he sees players kneeling during the anthem, LeBron James answered that the NBA would not miss him as a viewer. LeBron went on to endorse Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
Now LeBron is starting a new chapter in Philadelphia with the same critic in his ear. Whether he answers this one with words or just keeps working on his swing is up to him.
