WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) slammed American professional basketball player LeBron James as he accused the NBA of what he called “disrespectful behaviour” during the singing of the US national anthem at a game.
In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote, “While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country. 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!”
🚨 WOW! President Trump just demanded an IMMEDIATE apology from Lebron James to servicemembers and their families for disrespecting the national anthem before the game
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. 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!” 🙏🏻
SPOT ON. What a disgusting move.
Cameras caught LeBron practicing his GOLF SWING and shooting form during the anthem
He’s made over a BILLION dollars in this country. He can’t spare two minutes for the flag?
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 22, 2026
As per the video shared by Trump on his Truth Social account, LeBron James can be seen carrying out warm-up exercises during the anthem.
Notably, in 2020, Trump weighed in on the debate on who is better between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, to which he sided with Jordan. He at that time told Fox Sports radio, “Michael Jordan. Well, I’ve seen them both. Michael Jordan is. Plus, he wasn’t political. So, people like him better.”
LeBron James responds to Donald Trump taking shots at him with a BRUTAL one liner:
“Slow news day at the office, you know.” https://t.co/Y4Qa0lHD6a
— Deuce World🌃 (@deuceworldx) October 23, 2026
Earlier, in February this year, Trump had also criticised some of the American athletes competing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Trump had criticised freestyle skier Hunter Hess in a Truth Social post, calling him “a real Loser” after Hess said he did not feel he represented everything happening in the United States under the current administration.
Trump argued that Hess should not have tried out for the Olympic team if he held such views. (ANI)
