Trump calls LeBron James a 'TOTAL DISGRACE' over anthem warmups
President Donald Trump said LeBron James disrespected the country by warming up during the national anthem before a 76ers game, ESPN, the Guardian and the BBC reported. Trump called James "a TOTAL DISGRACE" and said he should apologize. James later said it must be a slow news day.
President Donald Trump said LeBron James disrespected the country during the national anthem, according to ESPN, the Guardian and the BBC.
Trump posted a video of James before the 76ers' season opener against the Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, the outlets reported. In the video, James appeared to practice a golf swing and basketball shots during the anthem, ESPN and the BBC reported. His teammates mostly stood still, they said.
"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!" Trump wrote, according to the Guardian and the BBC. "I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE," he wrote, according to ESPN, the Guardian and the BBC.
Trump said James should apologize to "all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag," the outlets reported.
Trump raised it again at a campaign rally in Iowa on Thursday night, the Guardian reported. He called it "a big scandal kind of a story," the Guardian said.
James answered after the 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, ESPN and the Guardian reported. "Slow news day at the office," he said, according to ESPN and the Guardian.
76ers coach Nick Nurse said Trump's comments were more distraction for his team, ESPN and the Guardian reported. "I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had," Nurse said, according to ESPN and the Guardian.
Trump and James have traded jabs for years, the outlets reported. In 2018, James said "we will definitely not shut up and dribble" after a Fox News host criticized him, ESPN reported.
The anthem has been a flash point before, the BBC reported. In 2016, football player Colin Kaepernick knelt during the anthem to protest police brutality and racism, the BBC said. Trump criticized him at the time.
Trump himself was criticized in 2020 for gesturing as if to conduct while the anthem played at a watch party, ESPN reported.
James, 41, is in his 24th NBA season and plays for his fourth team, the Guardian reported.
What we know: Trump called James a disgrace and demanded an apology over his anthem warmups.
What we don't: Whether the NBA or the 76ers will respond.
Where outlets agree ESPN, the Guardian and the BBC report that Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the country by warming up during the anthem and called him a "TOTAL DISGRACE."
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.