Trump Accuses LeBron James of Disrespecting US National Anthem
Donald Trump accused NBA star LeBron James of disrespecting the US national anthem, sharing a clip of the 76ers forward moving during the anthem and demanding an apology.
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NBA superstar LeBron James, accusing him of disrespecting the United States during the playing of the national anthem at a recent game.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump wrote: "While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country." He added that James should apologise "to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!"
The post included a video clip of James standing with his Philadelphia 76ers teammates during the anthem, appearing to move his body — swinging his arms in what looked like a warm-up stretch and mimicking shooting motions.
A representative for the 76ers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It is not the first time Trump has clashed with athletes over anthem etiquette. His criticism of pre-game protests stretches back to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling demonstration in support of racial justice, and in 2018 he cancelled the Philadelphia Eagles' planned White House visit after players pushed back on his demand that they stand for the anthem.
James, who sits atop the NBA's all-time scoring list, emerged as a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and has often used his platform to back progressive causes.
Source: Al Jazeera English — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.