Trump Criticizes LeBron James Over National Anthem Behavior, Cites Disrespect

US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced criticism towards National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar LeBron James, accusing the basketball player of disrespectful conduct during the singing of the US national anthem at a recent NBA game. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, accompanied by a video clip, "While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country." He further added, "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!" The video shared by Trump depicted James standing with his Philadelphia 76ers teammates, engaging in movements resembling warm-up stretches and basketball shooting drills. A representative for the 76ers did not immediately provide a comment to Al Jazeera's request. This is not the first time Trump has publicly criticized athletes for their actions during pre-game national anthem ceremonies, a stance that gained prominence with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest advocating for racial justice. In 2018, Trump rescinded the White House invitation for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after the team reportedly disagreed with his directive for players to stand during the anthem. LeBron James has been a prominent advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement since 2020 and has consistently supported progressive causes throughout his career, including his ascent to the NBA's all-time scoring record.