LeBron James has responded to Donald Trump after the US president criticised the NBA star for appearing to practise his golf swing during the national anthem.
Asked about Trump’s comments after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, James dismissed the controversy with a brief remark.
“It must be a slow news day at the office, you know,” the 41-year-old said.
The exchange came after Trump accused James of disrespecting the United States during the national anthem at Madison Square Garden earlier this week.
Trump Demands an Apology From the NBA Legend
Footage of James during the anthem circulated widely on social media after Philadelphia defeated the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks 106-100 on Tuesday, spoiling their championship banner-raising ceremony on the opening day of the new season.
The video showed James mimicking a golf swing while also practising his free-throw technique as the Star-Spangled Banner played.
Trump responded to the footage in a Truth Social post on Thursday, describing James as a “total disgrace” and demanding that he apologise.
“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.
“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!”
President Repeats Attack During Iowa Rally
Trump returned to the controversy during a rally in Iowa on Thursday night, questioning James’ actions during the national anthem.
“During the national anthem, he’s practicing his golf swing… what the hell is that?” the president said as members of the crowd booed the basketball player.
“It’s a big scandal… what it’s all about? I don’t understand it.”
The comments added to the public dispute between Trump and James, who have exchanged criticism for several years.
Trump Previously Questioned James’ Views on Race
The latest remarks follow another attack from Trump earlier this year, shortly after James revealed he would join the Philadelphia 76ers following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
Asked who he considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Trump praised Michael Jordan, whom he described as a friend with whom he had played golf.
“Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine, I’ve played golf with him,” Trump said.
“He’s a really good guy and I think LeBron is – maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know – but I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
James has regularly used his public platform to criticise Trump and has supported Democratic candidates and voting-rights initiatives.
Feud Began During Trump’s First Presidency
The disagreement between the two men became particularly public in 2017, when James called Trump a “bum” on social media.
The basketball star made the comment after Trump withdrew a White House invitation extended to Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry, who had expressed reservations about visiting.
James defended Curry in a post directed at Trump, writing: “U bum, Steph Curry already said he ain’t going! So, therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!”
The dispute continued in 2018, when Trump announced that neither the Cleveland Cavaliers nor the Golden State Warriors would be invited to the White House following that year’s NBA Finals.
James, who was playing for Cleveland at the time, responded by dismissing the importance of the invitation.
“Winning a championship is way bigger than getting invited to the White House, especially with him in it,” he said.
Later that year, James criticised Trump’s approach to the presidency during an interview with ESPN, saying he was troubled by the president’s handling of the office.
“He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country,” James said.
“He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the President of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement.
He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
James Endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016
James’ opposition to Trump dates back to the 2016 presidential election, when he endorsed Hillary Clinton in an opinion article published by his hometown newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal.
Drawing on his experience growing up in a single-parent household, James argued that Clinton understood the challenges faced by underprivileged children.
He also praised Clinton’s work on behalf of children and highlighted her relationship with his friend, former president Barack Obama.
Philadelphia Completes Comeback Against Cleveland
Trump’s latest criticism came on the night James helped Philadelphia secure a comeback victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his former team and hometown franchise.
The 76ers fell 27 points behind during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with Cleveland’s lead reaching 29 points at one stage.
The deficit prompted boos from some Philadelphia supporters before halftime during James’ first home game for the team.
ESPN analytics gave the 76ers just a 1.3 per cent chance of winning at one point.
Philadelphia responded after the break, overturning the deficit to claim a 114-106 victory in what was described as the biggest comeback of James’ career.
Reflecting on the atmosphere inside the arena, the four-time NBA champion said: “It was everything that I dreamed of and more.
“The boos, that was amazing. We deserved it. And then we got the cheers and almost blew the roof off this thing tonight in a good way. So that was a hell of a night.”
