A grainy pregame video has turned into a fresh clash between the president and one of basketball's biggest names.
President Donald Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after video surfaced showing James moving during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers' season opener at Madison Square Garden two days earlier. Trump called James a "TOTAL DISGRACE" in a post on Truth Social, reviving a long-running feud between the two men.
Trump ICC Sanctions 2026: Why US Hit Court Hours After Nobel Win
What the video shows from Madison Square Garden
View this post on Instagram
The moment happened Tuesday, October 20, before Philadelphia faced the New York Knicks in both teams' season opener. James stood with his new 76ers teammates on the court while singer Avery Wilson performed "The Star-Spangled Banner." Cameras caught James moving his arms and body throughout the song, with motions that looked like a golf swing, some stretching, and a basketball shooting or free-throw motion.
Most of the players standing near James stayed still during the anthem. The game carried extra weight that night, since the Knicks raised their championship banner and handed out championship rings before the anthem played, adding to the ceremonial spotlight James stepped into during his first regular-season appearance for Philadelphia.
Trump SpaceX Bonds Bought Days Before Big Space Policy Drop
Trump calls LeBron James a total disgrace on social media
Trump posted the video himself on Truth Social two days later. He wrote, "While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!" He followed that message with another line aimed directly at the four-time NBA champion: "I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE."
Trump did not stop there. He added that James should say sorry to people who served and died for the country, writing 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!" The remarks quickly spread across major outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, and ESPN, all describing the same clip of James moving through warmup-style gestures while the anthem played.
A history of friction between James and the president
This is not the first time Trump has gone after James. The two have sparred publicly for years over politics, social issues, and James' outspoken views on race and fairness in America. That history gives the anthem video a political charge that goes beyond a few seconds of footage from a basketball game.
James has long used his platform to speak on causes he cares about, and Trump has just as often pushed back against him. Sports commentator Clay Travis added to the conversation, arguing James would never act the same way during another country's anthem and framing the episode as a question about patriotism. That is commentary, not proof of what James was actually thinking during the song.
No word yet from James, the 76ers, or the NBA
So far, there is no public statement from James explaining his movements or addressing Trump's comments directly. The 76ers, the Knicks, and the NBA have also stayed quiet, based on available reporting. There is no mention of any league fine, suspension, or formal review tied to the anthem video.
That silence leaves a gap at the center of the story. Trump has offered his interpretation of what the video means, but nobody has confirmed whether James intended any kind of statement at all. It is possible the movements were simply leftover warmup habits from a player stretching before a big game. It is also possible fans and reporters will keep pushing James for an explanation as the 76ers season continues.
Why this moment matters beyond one anthem
The dispute taps into a bigger pattern in American sports, where anthem behavior often becomes a flashpoint for larger arguments about patriotism, protest, and free expression. Trump's comments ensure the clip will keep circulating, even without any league action behind it.
For now, the story rests on video interpretation, a presidential post, and silence from the man at the center of it. Reporters and fans will likely watch James' next few games closely, especially his return to the court and any comments he makes about the anthem, patriotism, or his long-running back-and-forth with Trump.
