Trump Condemns Lebron James for Golf Swing During Anthem
WHO:
Pro Football Network - Former ESPN anchor Linda Cohn criticized LeBron James over his national anthem behavior and compared it to the WNBA.
ABC News - Trump’s history of criticizing LeBron James includes disparaging his intelligence over a CNN interview during Trump’s first administration.
ABC News - James has publicly criticized Trump, including after Trump rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors in 2017. James said Trump did not understand how children looked to the president for guidance and leadership, adding, “This is a beautiful country and we're never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
Fox News - President Trump criticized LeBron James, an NBA player, on Truth Social.
TMZ - Donald Trump called James an “NBA superstar” and described him as a “total disgrace.”
Sportskeeda - LeBron James was described as being at the center of attention after his Sixers debut.
Daily Mail Sports - Donald Trump criticized LeBron James, described as a Philadelphia 76ers star and NBA icon.
WHAT:
ABC News - Trump’s Truth Social post said, “While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” and shared a video with overlaid text claiming James was “working on his golf swing.”
Fox News - James made additional golf-swing hip turns during the national anthem before the 76ers-Cavaliers game.
ABC News - James was scheduled to make his Philadelphia home debut against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Pro Football Network - James responded to Trump’s apology demand with, “Slow news day.”
ABC News - James performed arm stretches before mimicking a basketball shooting motion in the video Trump shared.
ABC News - James scored 14 points in the 76ers’ 106-100 win over the Knicks.
ABC News - James’s representatives did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
BBC - Trump said, “I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” referring to James.
BBC - Trump said 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!”
Coming Soon - Trump demanded an apology from James over the national anthem incident.
Fox News - Trump criticized James for practicing golf swings during the national anthem while wearing Philadelphia 76ers gear.
TMZ - Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing James for practicing his golf swing during the national anthem, calling it a “total disgrace.” The article excerpt begins a quote with “While…”
Sportskeeda - The article headline says NBA fans were fed up with James over his national anthem antics and quotes the criticism: “Disrespectful to a Country That Made Him Rich Beyond His Wildest Dreams.”
Daily Mail Sports - Footage of James went viral after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks, described as the NBA champion, in the opening game of the new NBA season.
Fox News - The 76ers were identified as James’s new team.
WHERE:
ABC News - The 76ers’ win over the Knicks took place at Madison Square Garden.
Coming Soon - The incident occurred at the NBA opener between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks.
Fox News - The incident took place during a national anthem while James wore Philadelphia 76ers gear.
Daily Mail Sports - The game involved the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks.
WHEN:
Coming Soon - The game was held on Tuesday night.
TMZ - Trump made his Truth Social post on a Thursday.
Sportskeeda - James’s Sixers debut was on a Tuesday.
Daily Mail Sports - The game took place on the first day of the new NBA season.
WHY:
ABC News - Trump said, “I only like people who like me,” while explaining why he favored Michael Jordan over James.
ABC News - Trump said in July that James might be “a racist” and that he preferred Michael Jordan because he likes people who like him.
BBC - Trump described James as “no good” and said his conduct disrespected the national anthem.
Fox News - Trump’s stated basis for criticizing James was his golf-swing practice during the national anthem.
TMZ - Trump’s criticism was prompted by James practicing a golf swing during the national anthem.
HOW:
The Source - The Source also reported that James dismissed Trump’s social media attack as a “Slow News Day.”
Coming Soon - Trump called for an apology in a social media post.
Fox News - Trump issued his criticism in a Truth Social post.
Daily Mail Sports - Footage of James’s conduct spread rapidly online.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:14 UTC)
President Trump criticized LeBron James on Truth Social after video showed the Philadelphia 76ers star making arm stretches and golf-swing motions during the national anthem. The footage was taken before Philadelphia’s game against the New York Knicks and spread rapidly online. Trump called James a “total disgrace,” accused him of disrespecting the country, and demanded an apology to American service members and others who died for the flag. James responded, “Slow news day.” The incident came as James was preparing for his Philadelphia home debut against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored 14 points in the 76ers’ 106-to-100 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The dispute reflects a longer public feud: Trump has criticized James’s intelligence, while James has spoken out against Trump, including after the president rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 14:19 UTC)
President Trump is demanding an apology from LeBron James after video showed the basketball star practicing a golf swing during the national anthem. The incident happened as James wore Philadelphia 76ers gear before the team’s season-opening game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. James had performed arm stretches before mimicking a shot, and footage spread rapidly online. In a Truth Social post, Trump called James a “total disgrace” and said he should apologize to American service members who died for the flag and the country. James brushed off the demand, replying, “Slow news day.” He scored 14 points as the 76ers beat the Knicks, 106 to 100. The exchange adds to a long-running public feud: James has criticized Trump, while Trump has attacked James’s intelligence and questioned his character. Former ESPN anchor Linda Cohn also criticized James’s anthem behavior and compared it with the WNBA.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 11:02 UTC)
President Trump is demanding an apology from LeBron James after a video showed the Philadelphia 76ers star practicing a golf swing during the national anthem. Trump criticized James in a Truth Social post, calling him a “total disgrace” and saying he should apologize to American service members who died for the country. The footage spread online after the 76ers’ win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where James scored 14 points in a 106-to-100 victory. James was wearing 76ers gear during the anthem at the NBA season opener. Trump said the behavior showed disrespect for the anthem. The two have a history of public criticism: Trump has previously disparaged James’s intelligence, while James criticized Trump after he rescinded a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors in 2017. James’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
--
President Trump criticized LeBron James after video of the NBA star practicing golf swings during the national anthem at his Philadelphia 76ers debut spread online. The incident took place before an opening-night game between the 76ers and the New York Knicks, while James wore his new team’s gear. In a Truth Social post, Trump called James “no good” and a “total disgrace,” saying the gesture disrespected the anthem. He also urged James to apologize to American service members who died for the flag and to the country. James was at the center of attention following his Sixers debut, and the video drew a strong response from fans. Trump’s criticism focused on James swinging a golf club during the anthem, rather than on the game itself.