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U.S. President Donald Trump accused NBA player LeBron James on Thursday of disrespecting the United States after a video showed the Philadelphia 76ers forward continuing his warm-up routine during the national anthem before the team’s season opener against the New York Knicks.
“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 on his Truth Social platform, which Trump Media and Technology Group launched in 2022.
Trump added that James should apologize. “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!” he wrote.
Trump shared a video showing James stretching and making swinging and basketball shooting motions while his teammates largely stood still during the anthem.
The incident occurred Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, an arena in Manhattan, New York City, where Philadelphia secured a 106-100 victory.
James, 41, joined the 76ers before the season after eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is playing in his record 24th NBA season. The four-time NBA champion has criticized Trump and spoken out about racial equality and other social issues.
Trump has repeatedly criticized athletes for their conduct during the national anthem, particularly those who knelt to protest racial injustice. The kneeling protests drew national attention in 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting and later kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice and police violence. Trump criticized NFL players who took part in such protests in 2017.
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