POLPolitics NO. ---

Trump calls LeBron James a 'disgrace' over national anthem video

Trump said James should apologize to "Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag." James had not commented publicly by Thursday afternoon, and the 76ers did not immediately respond to Reuters.

By Rowan Ashby Published 22.10.26 21:38 UTC 5 min read

LeBron James during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — Clément Bardot via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Key takeaways

President Donald Trump on Thursday, October 22, 2026, called Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James "a TOTAL DISGRACE" in a Truth Social post about his conduct during the US national anthem, according to the Associated Press.
The post included a video from the 76ers' season opener at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20, in which James is seen stretching, mimicking a golf swing and making shooting motions while teammates mostly stood still, AP and Reuters reported.
Trump said James should apologize to "Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag," according to both news agencies.
As of Thursday afternoon US Eastern time, James had not commented publicly, AP reported. Reuters said a 76ers representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump attacks LeBron James over national anthem: what happened

Donald Trump called LeBron James a "disgrace" on Thursday, October 22, over the 76ers forward's conduct during the national anthem. Trump's Truth Social post showed James stretching and mimicking a golf swing before his first game for the Philadelphia 76ers.

"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country," Trump wrote, according to Reuters. AP reported that the post went on to say he had said "right from the beginning" that James was "no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE." Trump also demanded an apology to service members who died for the flag, both agencies reported.

Media reports on the post began appearing by about 16:48 UTC on Thursday. Reuters published its story at 1:50 p.m. EDT (17:50 UTC), and AP followed at 2:42 p.m. EDT (18:42 UTC). Neither agency gave the exact time the post went up.

What the video shows

According to Reuters, the clip shows James standing in line with his 76ers teammates, swinging his arms in a warm-up-style stretch and making basketball shooting motions. AP described him as appearing to practise a golf swing and a jump shot while his teammates mostly stood still. OutKick, a Fox-owned sports site, reported that James did a similar golf-swing routine during the anthem on Christmas Day last season, when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The video does not show James kneeling or turning away from the flag. The criticism focuses on his movement during the anthem, not on a protest.

Key facts at a glance

Item	Detail	Source
Game	76ers 106, Knicks 100, Madison Square Garden, New York	AP; The Independent
Game date	Tuesday, October 20, 2026 (NBA season opener)	AP; Reuters (AP photo caption)
Trump's post	Thursday, October 22, 2026, on Truth Social, with video	AP; Reuters
James on debut	14 points in 34 minutes	The Independent
James's contract	Two years, $8 million, with a player option (signed July 2026)	ABC7; Fox
Next game	76ers home debut against Cleveland, Thursday night, October 22	AP
Response from James	None as of Thursday afternoon (US Eastern time)	AP

What we know and what we don't know yet

Confirmed

Trump posted the criticism and the video on Truth Social on October 22, as reported independently by AP and Reuters.
The footage comes from the October 20 season opener in New York, which Philadelphia won 106-100 against the defending champion Knicks.
It was James's first regular-season game for the 76ers, in what AP describes as his record 24th NBA season.

Not yet known

Whether James, the 76ers or the NBA will respond. None had commented publicly at the time of the agency reports.
Why James was moving during the anthem. He has not explained it, and any explanation would be speculation at this stage.
Whether the issue will come up at the 76ers' home opener against Cleveland on Thursday night or at James's next media session.

Background: a feud that goes back to 2017

Trump and James have clashed in public for almost a decade. In 2017, while playing for Cleveland, James called Trump "a bum" on Twitter in a dispute over Stephen Curry and a White House visit by the champion Golden State Warriors, AP noted. In 2018, after Fox News host Laura Ingraham told him to "shut up and dribble," James replied that athletes would "definitely not shut up and dribble," according to AP.

In August 2020, during the NBA's restart in Orlando, Trump called players kneeling during the anthem "disgraceful" and said he turned off games when he saw it. James answered that players "could care less" about losing him as a viewer, AFP reported at the time.

Trump has also criticised other athletes over anthem conduct. Reuters recalled that his attacks began with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest, and that in 2018 he cancelled a White House visit by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

James joined Philadelphia in July 2026 on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, leaving the Lakers, according to reports at the time. He joined a roster that includes Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Trump's post is one of several Truth Social interventions this week. Bullquill has also covered his backing of a contested Ohio campaign ad, his legal fight in the BBC defamation lawsuit, his remarks that the US is not negotiating with Iran, and the "No Kings" protests ahead of the midterms.

What it means

The episode pulls the NBA back into a political argument it has faced since the protests of 2017 and 2020, just as the 2026-27 season begins and less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. James is one of the most prominent athletes to speak on political and social issues, and Trump has repeatedly used the national anthem as a test of patriotism. That makes a public exchange between the two likely to get wide attention.

The NBA does not appear to have issued any statement, and there is no sign of disciplinary action. The league's response, if any, and James's own reaction are the next things to watch. Bullquill will update this story if James, the 76ers or the NBA comment.

Frequently asked questions

What did Trump say about LeBron James and the national anthem?

On October 22, 2026, Trump wrote on Truth Social that James "disrespects our Country" during the anthem, called him "no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE" and said he should apologize to service members who died for the flag, according to Reuters and AP.

What did LeBron James do during the anthem?

Video from the 76ers' October 20 season opener at Madison Square Garden shows James stretching, mimicking a golf swing and making shooting motions while teammates mostly stood still, AP and Reuters reported. He did not kneel.

Has LeBron James responded to Trump?

As of Thursday afternoon US Eastern time on October 22, James had made no public comment, according to AP. A 76ers representative did not immediately respond to Reuters.

When did LeBron James join the 76ers?

James signed with Philadelphia in July 2026 on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, according to reports at the time. The October 20 game against the Knicks was his 76ers debut.