U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NBA superstar LeBron James for showing disrespect to the country after footage showed James warming up and mimicking golf swings during the national anthem before the season opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump accused 41-year-old basketball star LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after a video surfaced showing James moving and mimicking golf swings and basketball shooting gestures during the U.S. national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 20 Oct.
Trump posted on social media, saying James showed disrespect to the country and called on him to apologize to soldiers and American heroes who died for the flag and nation. He also sharply condemned James's behavior, calling it extremely shameful.
In the video, James, playing for the 76ers for the first time, stood in line with teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem, while James kept moving as shown in the footage. So far, James has not responded to Trump's latest criticism. ESPN and the BBC reported they have contacted him and his team for comment.
Nick Nurse, head coach of the 76ers, said the team must focus on training, game video analysis, and playing, without letting outside criticism affect their work.
Trump and James have had public conflicts for years, with James criticizing Trump on social and political issues including racial inequality, while Trump has attacked James multiple times on social media and expressed negative opinions about him.
In 2018, James said he would not stop speaking out on social issues just because he is an athlete, responding to criticism from Fox News host Laura Ingraham. He emphasized that athletes can use their voices to inspire and promote social change.
James has also supported candidates opposing Trump in U.S. presidential elections and played a role in encouraging voter participation during the Black Lives Matter movement advocating racial equality.
The issue of respect for the U.S. national anthem has been politically controversial before. In 2016, former NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem to protest police violence and racial discrimination, an act Trump also criticized.
LeBron James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with over 40,000 points and is playing his 24th season, the longest in the league’s history. In July, James signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia, widely seen as likely his final professional basketball contract.