World
Trump Criticizes LeBron James for Anthems Warm‑Ups During Philadelphia Opener
President Donald Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warm‑ups while the national anthem was performed before Philadelphia’s season opener on Tuesday. In a social media post sharing the video, Trump said, “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” and added that 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!” James, who was in his 41st year and starting his first season with the Sixers, was seen practicing a golf swing and a jump shot as The Star‑Spangled Banner played. He was lined up with teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem. Trump and James have exchanged public remarks for years, but James had not yet responded to the president’s criticism. The incident came as James was set to make his home debut for Philadelphia against Cleveland on Thursday night. The article also noted previous moments when James and Trump intersected, including James’s 2017 statement about equality while wearing one black and one white shoe, his remarks about Trump on Twitter, and his broader activism on social issues. The piece highlighted James’s history of speaking out on equality and political engagement, citing his 2020 AP Male Athlete of the Year award and his efforts to encourage voting during the Black Lives Matter movement. It also mentioned criticism from former footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which James rejected, affirming his commitment to speaking out on issues he believes are wrong.