Trump criticises James
President Donald Trump on Thursday posted a video of NBA star LeBron James making apparent warm-up movements while standing with teammates during the national anthem and labelled the behaviour disrespectful, calling James a “TOTAL DISGRACE” and demanding an apology.
James brushes off the attack
James responded by downplaying the criticism, dismissing it with the remark “slow news day at the office.” He did not appear to engage further with the president’s post and continued with team duties following the exchange.
Context of the footage
The clip Trump shared showed James and his Philadelphia 76ers teammates lined up prior to their season opener against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The president’s post focused on the pregame routine, framing it as a slight to the anthem.
On-court focus
On the court, James helped his team in a separate contest when the Sixers rallied from a 29-point deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a performance that shifted attention back to his play rather than the off-court exchange. The incident adds to a recent pattern of public commentary by politicians about high-profile athletes, but James’s remarks suggested he was intent on keeping the focus on basketball.