President Donald Trump has called on NBA superstar LeBron James to apologize to America’s fallen military heroes after video surfaced showing the basketball player appearing to perform stretching movements during the national anthem before a professional basketball game.
The president delivered his criticism Thursday, October 22, through a Truth Social post that included footage of James standing alongside his Philadelphia 76ers teammates as the national anthem played.
The video showed James moving his arms and rotating his upper body in what appeared to be stretching or warmup movements while other players stood during the ceremony.
Trump interpreted the behavior as disrespectful to the country and the American flag, using his social media platform to publicly demand an apology.
The president wrote, “While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!”
Trump’s statement immediately brought renewed attention to the debate surrounding professional athletes and their conduct during patriotic ceremonies.
The president followed his initial criticism with a direct condemnation of the basketball star’s actions.
He wrote, “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.”
Trump then connected the controversy to the sacrifices made by American military personnel throughout the nation’s history.
He stated, “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 message placed the sacrifices of military service members at the center of the president’s criticism.
The footage reportedly came from the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, October 20.
James, who joined Philadelphia after a lengthy career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, was preparing for his debut with the 76ers.
During the anthem ceremony, cameras captured James standing with teammates as he moved his arms and shoulders.
The movements appeared to resemble a brief warmup routine, although the video does not establish what James intended by performing them.
Trump’s criticism focused on what he considered inappropriate behavior during a ceremony traditionally associated with patriotism and national unity.
The national anthem is performed before most major professional sporting events in the United States.
The ceremony is widely regarded as an opportunity to recognize the country, its history, and the people who have served in its armed forces.
For many military families, the flag carries a particularly personal meaning because of relatives who served, suffered injuries, or died in uniform.
Trump’s statement explicitly invoked those sacrifices when calling for James to apologize.
