Trump Attacks LeBron James Over National Anthem Conduct at 76ers Debut

Former President Donald Trump launched a blistering social media attack on LeBron James Thursday, accusing the NBA veteran of disrespecting the United States after video appeared to show James practicing a golf swing and jump shot during the national anthem before Philadelphia’s season opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Incident at Madison Square Garden

On Tuesday night, as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the New York Knicks in their 2026-27 season opener, cameras caught James — making his debut with Philadelphia after a record-tying 24th NBA season — moving rhythmically along the baseline. While most teammates stood still with hands over hearts, the 41-year-old forward appeared to rehearse a golf swing motion followed by a shooting form, drawing immediate attention on social media.

Trump reposted the clip on Truth Social with a scathing caption: “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!”

Sixers Focus on Controlling the Controllables

Hours before Philadelphia’s home opener against Cleveland on Thursday, head coach Nick Nurse addressed the brewing controversy with characteristic calm. “I think that goes right in with other outside noise we’ve already had,” Nurse told reporters. “I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they’ve had and the intent and all the stuff like that has been outstanding.”

Nurse’s message reflects a season-long theme for a Sixers roster built around Joel Embiid, Paul George, and the newly arrived James — a trio carrying championship expectations amid intense scrutiny.

A History of Mutual Antagonism

The latest flare-up continues a years-long public feud between Trump and James that has intertwined sports, politics, and cultural identity.

• 2017: As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, James wore mismatched shoes — one black, one white — each bearing the word “EQUALITY” in gold lettering. After the game, he declared: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
• 2018: After Fox News host Laura Ingraham told James to “shut up and dribble,” he fired back: “We will definitely not shut up and dribble. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth.” He invoked Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Jackie Robinson as athlete-activist predecessors.
• 2020: James earned AP Male Athlete of the Year honors for leading the Lakers to a title and mobilizing voter turnout during the Black Lives Matter movement. “I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor,” he said at the time.

Trump’s Own Anthem Moments Under Scrutiny

Critics quickly noted the former president’s own history with anthem decorum. In February 2020, the Miami Herald published video from a Super Bowl watch party at Mar-a-Lago showing Trump waving his arms as if conducting an orchestra while those around him stood with hands over hearts. The clip resurfaced Thursday as a counterpoint to his condemnation of James.

Context: The national anthem has long served as a flashpoint in American sports culture, from the 1968 Olympic protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos to Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 kneeling demonstration. Athletes’ conduct during the anthem routinely draws polarized reactions reflecting broader political divides.

James’ Legacy Beyond the Court

At 41, James occupies a singular space in sports history: the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion with three franchises, and perhaps the most politically vocal superstar of his generation. His LeBron James Family Foundation has invested millions in education initiatives in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, including the I PROMISE School.

Whether Tuesday’s anthem movements were intentional protest, habitual pregame routine, or simple distraction remains unclear. Representatives for James did not respond to ESPN’s requests for comment.

What Comes Next

The Sixers play their home opener Thursday night against the Cavaliers — James’ former team — at Wells Fargo Center. The atmosphere will test Nurse’s directive to ignore outside noise. For James, now in the twilight of an unprecedented career, the episode adds another chapter to a public life where basketball excellence and civic engagement have never been separate pursuits.

As the 2026-27 season unfolds, the intersection of sports and politics shows no sign of receding — and neither does the Trump-James rivalry that has come to symbolize it.

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