Trump’s post landed on Thursday, two days after the clip was filmed inside Madison Square Garden.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” the president wrote on Truth Social, posting a short video overlaid with the words “working on his golf swing.”
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.”
Trump then called for an apology.
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“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!”
What the clip actually showed
The footage was taken on Tuesday, October 20, before the 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks. As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, James stood on the end of the line, swung his arms through a slow golf motion and then into the follow-through of a jump shot. His teammates mostly stood still.
Philadelphia won the game 106-100, with James scoring 14 points on his 76ers debut.
‘Slow news day’
James was asked about Trump’s post on Thursday night, after the 76ers came back to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. He laughed before answering.
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“It’s a slow news day at the office, you know,” he told reporters, according to ESPN.
He then widened the frame.
“This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
A feud that keeps restarting
The clash dates to Trump’s first term. In 2017, the president rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors after their Finals win, and James publicly called him a “bum.” Trump has returned to James at intervals since, including comments disparaging his intelligence.
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Trump has also said more recently that he now prefers Michael Jordan as basketball’s greatest player, telling reporters: “I only like people that like me.”
James, now in his 24th NBA season and his first in Philadelphia, has rarely engaged beyond a line or two. Thursday’s answer followed the pattern.
The 76ers are 2-0.
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