President Donald Trump criticized NBA player LeBron James on Thursday, October 22, 2026, for his behavior during the national anthem. Trump accused James of disrespecting the United States after the Philadelphia 76ers player appeared to continue his pre-game warmups while "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed at a game in New York on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The incident occurred during Philadelphia's season opener. Video from the event showed James, who is 41 years old and entering his 24th NBA season, performing stretching exercises, a simulated golf swing, and a simulated jump shot. While James continued his movements, his teammates were reported to have mostly stood still during the performance.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump referred to James as a "TOTAL DISGRACE" and stated that the athlete "should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag." As of Thursday afternoon, James had not issued a public statement or social media post in response to the president's remarks. Representatives for the Philadelphia 76ers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The exchange follows a history of public disagreement between the two men. In 2017, while playing for Cleveland, James wore one black and one white shoe with the word "equality" on them and later referred to the president as "a bum" on social media. James has previously stated he would not "shut up and dribble" following criticism of his advocacy, citing athletes like Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson as inspirations for using his platform to address social issues.
The scale of the impact is reflected in the reach of both figures; James was the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 and has millions of social media followers, while Trump’s remarks were broadcast across national news platforms. For the average sports fan, the situation does not immediately change ticket prices or game schedules, but it reinforces a precedent where professional athletes utilize the pre-game period for personal expression or preparation, which may lead to varying reactions from government officials and the public.
Future developments depend on James's response and any potential policy changes by the NBA regarding anthem conduct. James was scheduled to make his home debut for Philadelphia on the evening of Thursday, October 22, 2026, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Any official response from the 76ers organization or the league office regarding the president's call for an apology remains not reported.