Donald Trump reignites feud with LeBron James over national anthem gesture
US President Donald Trump has renewed his long-running public dispute with basketball superstar LeBron James, accusing the athlete of disrespecting the United States after he moved during the national anthem before an NBA season opener.
James, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, was on court ahead of Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks when the anthem was performed. Video of the ceremony appeared to show him making a golf-swing motion and gestures resembling basketball shots rather than standing motionless. Trump responded with a sharply worded post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“While the national anthem is being played, LeBron James insults our nation!” Trump wrote, adding that he had long considered James “a bad person” and “a disgrace.” The president also called on the basketball player to apologise to US service members and others who died defending the country and its flag.
James has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments. Their exchange is the newest chapter in a relationship marked by years of political disagreement, personal criticism and public statements that have often drawn attention well beyond the world of sport.
A brief gesture becomes a national talking point
Trump’s reaction has once again placed a familiar question at the centre of a major sports story: what is expected of athletes when the national anthem is played? In the United States, professional sporting events commonly begin with a live or recorded performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Players and spectators are generally expected to stand if they are able, although individual responses vary.
For some, standing quietly is a straightforward sign of respect for the country and its armed forces. Others argue that athletes should be free to express themselves during the ceremony, particularly when their actions are peaceful and do not prevent others from observing it in their own way. James’s movements during the anthem have prompted fresh debate over where personal expression ends and perceived disrespect begins.
The incident also illustrates how quickly a moment at a basketball game can become a political flashpoint. A short clip can circulate widely across social media, where viewers may interpret the same gesture in sharply different ways. That dynamic often turns athletes into participants in national conversations they did not necessarily set out to lead.
Why anthem protests remain politically charged
Disputes over anthem conduct have a recent history in American sport. In 2016, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting during the national anthem and later took a knee, explaining that he was protesting police violence and racial injustice. His actions inspired other players to demonstrate, while also attracting intense criticism from fans and politicians who viewed the protests as unpatriotic.
Trump was among Kaepernick’s most vocal critics at the time. He called for players who protested during the anthem to be disciplined or removed from their teams and later claimed credit for the quarterback’s failure to return to the NFL. Years afterward, however, Trump said Kaepernick should be given another opportunity to play, a shift that showed how the debate—and the political responses to it—continued to evolve.
That history helps explain why Trump’s criticism of James has resonated beyond one NBA pregame ceremony. Anthem-related actions have become part of a wider argument about patriotism, racial justice, free expression and the role of professional athletes in public life. Each new incident revives those disagreements, often with fans divided along political lines.
Trump and James have clashed before
The president and the four-time NBA champion have exchanged criticism on several occasions. In 2018, after James said he would never sit across from Trump, the president questioned the basketball star’s intelligence. James, who supported former president Joe Biden, later said Trump had helped give racists permission to express their views more openly.
James has also used his public profile to discuss voting, racial inequality and other social issues. His involvement in politics has made him one of the most prominent athlete-activists in the United States, while also making him a frequent target of criticism from people who believe sports figures should avoid political commentary.
For James, the latest episode may be less about a single gesture than the continuing scrutiny that accompanies his status as one of the country’s most visible athletes. For Trump, the comments fit a broader pattern of using high-profile sporting moments to make arguments about national identity and public conduct.
What the controversy could mean for the NBA season
The dispute arrives as the NBA season begins, with attention already focused on teams, player movement and early-season performance. Instead of being remembered only for the matchup between Philadelphia and New York, the pregame ceremony has become a headline in its own right. That can draw new audiences to the story, but it also risks shifting attention away from the basketball itself.
There is no clear indication that the episode will lead to formal action against James. The controversy is principally a public and political dispute, rather than a reported league disciplinary matter. Still, further comments from either side could keep the story circulating, especially if James chooses to respond or if another athlete makes a similar gesture at an upcoming game.
For basketball fans, the immediate prediction is that the debate will continue online even as the season moves forward. Anthem ceremonies remain emotionally charged, and high-profile figures can quickly turn individual moments into national arguments. Whether James addresses Trump’s remarks or lets them pass, the incident has once again shown how closely sport, politics and public identity are intertwined in American football and basketball culture alike.
