LeBron responds to Trump's criticism, calls it 'slow news day in office'

LeBron James has brushed off President Donald Trump’s criticism of his behavior during the national anthem, dismissing the controversy as a “slow news day at the office.”

The Philadelphia 76ers star made the brief remark on Thursday night, hours after Trump accused him of disrespecting the United States for appearing to continue his warmups while the anthem was performed before the Sixers’ season opener against the Knicks in New York.

In a social media post accompanied by video, Trump said James had disrespected the country during Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden, where the 41-year-old appeared to practice a golf swing and a jump shot while lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.

“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump wrote in the post, adding that 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!”

James, now in his first season with Philadelphia after signing with the 76ers, declined to engage further. His short answer — “It’s a slow news day at the office, you know. Slow news day in the office.” — came after a winning debut in which he even moonlighted at center.

The exchange continues a years-long feud between the NBA’s all-time great and the president, with the two trading public swipes stretching back to Trump’s first term.