Trump rips LeBron James for stretching during national anthem before Sixers-Knicks game

Henry Savage, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Oct 22, 2026

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President Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social platform on Thursday criticizing Sixers forward LeBron James for pregame stretching during the national anthem before Tuesday’s Sixers-Knicks season opener at Madison Square Garden.

“While listening to our national anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump wrote. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. LeBron 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!”

In the video, James can be seen extending his arms and rotating his shoulders in a swinging motion that some online thought was a golf swing. It was not the first time James was captured seemingly practicing his golf swing during the anthem, including last Christmas in a post that was shared by ESPN.

However, in the video posted by Trump, James’ swinging stretch aligns with a left-handed golf swing. James is right-handed and would be positioned the opposite way if practicing a golf swing.

James drew Trump’s attention earlier this year. On the day James signed with the Sixers, Trump said of him, “maybe he’s a racist,” when asked whether he preferred James or Michael Jordan. Trump has also been critical of other athletes’ behavior during the national anthem, most notably former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016.

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