US President Donald Trump has criticised basketball superstar LeBron James over his conduct during the playing of the American national anthem before an NBA game, accusing the Philadelphia 76ers forward of disrespecting the United States and demanding that he apologise.

Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after sharing a video showing James moving his arms and performing warm-up-like movements while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was being played before Philadelphia’s season-opening game against the New York Knicks.

In the post, Trump described James as a “total disgrace” and argued that the player should apologise to American military personnel and others who had died in service to the country.

The president’s comments triggered renewed discussion about the expectations placed on professional athletes during national ceremonies, as well as the longstanding public tension between Trump and the NBA star.

Incident at Madison Square Garden
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, before the 76ers faced the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Video footage showed James moving his arms and appearing to perform stretching and basketball shooting motions while the anthem was being sung. Several teammates stood largely still during the performance.

Trump interpreted the movements as disrespectful to the United States and its national symbols. However, the footage alone does not establish James’s intention, and no confirmed explanation from the player was available when the president issued his criticism.

Philadelphia won the game 106–100, with James recording 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his first regular-season appearance for the franchise.

James dismisses controversy as a “slow news day”
The controversy continued ahead of Philadelphia’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

After helping the 76ers recover from a 29-point deficit to secure a 114–106 victory over Cleveland, James dismissed the uproar with the remark, “It must be a slow news day at the office,” according to The Associated Press.

His response came as attention shifted from the pre-game incident to the team’s performance on the court.

Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse had also emphasised the importance of keeping the team focused on basketball rather than outside distractions. Before the home game, Nurse said his priority was the team’s preparation, training and performance.

A longstanding public disagreement
The latest dispute adds to a history of public exchanges between Trump and James.

The basketball star has previously spoken out on racial equality and other social issues, while Trump has criticised athletes whose actions during national anthem ceremonies he considers inappropriate.

Their disagreements have included public comments about politics, sports and the role of prominent athletes in wider social debates.

The national anthem has also been at the centre of wider American sporting controversies, particularly since former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during pre-game performances in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police violence.

Those incidents helped turn anthem ceremonies into a recurring point of debate about patriotism, freedom of expression and athletes’ responsibilities as public figures.

Debate over sports and national symbols
Trump’s criticism has once again placed James at the centre of a discussion that extends beyond basketball.

For some observers, standing respectfully during a national anthem is an important expression of respect for the country and those who have served it. Others argue that the actions of athletes during such ceremonies should be assessed in context rather than automatically treated as political statements.

In James’s case, the available footage shows movement during the anthem, but it does not by itself establish whether he intended to make a political statement or insult the country.

As of the latest reports, the dispute had generated public attention without disrupting the 76ers’ preparations or their on-court performance.

For now, the episode highlights the continuing intersection of professional sport, political disagreement and public expectations surrounding national symbols in the United States.

247NewsCheck.com will continue to follow developments in the story as further verified information becomes available.