President Trump on Thursday accused NBA superstar LeBron James of disrespecting the national anthem after cameras caught him stretching and mimicking basketball shots during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers season opener at Madison Square Garden.
“While listening to our national anthem, LeBron disrespects our country,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a total disgrace. LeBron James should apologize to all those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag and all that our country stands for!”
The president attached a video to his post showing Mr. James swaying back and forth and practicing his free-throw motion during the national anthem to loosen up before the 76ers game against the New York Knicks.
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The 76ers won the game 106-100 over the defending NBA champion Knicks.
The bad blood between Mr. Trump and Mr. James stretches back nearly a decade.
In 2017, Mr. James called the president a “bum” for withdrawing an invitation for the Golden State Warriors to visit the White House. A year later, Mr. Trump mocked Mr. James’ intelligence following a CNN interview in which the NBA star accused him of using sports to divide Americans.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Mr. James endorsed Joseph R. Biden.
Mr. Trump has also weighed in on the great debate over whether Mr. James or Michael Jordan is basketball’s greatest player. The president has repeatedly said he believes Mr. Jordan has that title.
Mr. Trump has a history of blasting athletes for what he says is disrespectful behavior during the national anthem. During his first term as president in 2017, he criticized NFL players who took a knee during the anthem, saying it was “very important” that they stand for it.
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