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Trump Criticizes LeBron James for Not Standing Still During National Anthem
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump criticized LeBron James on Thursday, accusing the NBA star of disrespecting the United States during the national anthem at Philadelphia's season opener on Tuesday.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump shared a video showing James moving his body while the anthem was performed, calling it disrespectful behavior.
Trump wrote, 'While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country. I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.' He also urged James to apologize to 'all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for.'
James, who was starting his first season with Philadelphia, was seen alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem. However, James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot during the performance.
James has a history of speaking out on social and political issues. In 2017, he made a statement during an NBA game with shoes featuring the word 'equality' in gold letters on the back.
James has defended his right to speak out, saying, 'We will definitely not shut up and dribble.' He also referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Jackie Robinson as athletes who previously spoke up for equality and change.
James explained his actions, stating, 'I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.'
Some, like Ibrahimovic, have criticized athletes for getting involved in political causes, suggesting they should 'just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.'
Trump's criticism of James comes after he canceled the planned White House visit of the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 due to their disagreement with his call for players to stand during the anthem.
Mike Breen, a broadcaster for the Knicks, initially reported that James had criticized Joel Embiid for walking out late to practice, but later apologized after James denied the claim.
What's confirmed
- “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said of James in a social media post sharing the video.
- Among some of the more notable times James became entangled with the president or politics: James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement during an NBA game with his shoes — one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each.
- James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
- “We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said.
- President Donald Trump on Thursday accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warmups while the national anthem was performed before Philadelphia’s season opener on Tuesday.
- US President Donald Trump criticised National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar LeBron James on Thursday for what he called disrespectful behaviour during the singing of the US national anthem at a recent NBA game.
- Mike Breen is doing a 180 this week after getting called out by LeBron James.
- “I don’t know why the person who told me the story would make it up, but if LeBron says it never happened then I believe him and apologize for putting it out there,” Breen concluded.
What's still developing
- The latest swing-and-a-miss in LeBron’s long history of slamming America On Tuesday night, the billionaire Philadelphia 76ers star couldn’t even manage to stand still and show a little respect for Old Glory.
- Trump included video footage of James practicing his shots and seemingly stretching while the anthem was playing.
- The remaining members of the team largely stood still throughout the clip.
- Speaking with Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Breen said that he was “disappointed” with how the anecdote had been interpreted.
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