President Trump lashes out at LeBron James over brief anthem stretch
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President Donald Trump posted a video and used it to shame LeBron James, claiming a simple stretch during the national anthem was disrespectful, while James has not responded.
President Donald Trump posted a social media video on Thursday that he claimed showed Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James stretching while the national anthem played before his debut against the New York Knicks. The post added text mocking the movement as "working on his golf swing" and framed it as a supposed insult to the country.
"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!" Trump wrote.
"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!" he added.
The clip shows James doing arm stretches before mimicking a basketball shooting motion. James has not commented on the remarks, and his representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has repeatedly targeted James before, including comments in July suggesting the player might be "a racist" and statements comparing James to Michael Jordan. James has publicly criticized Trump in the past, saying the president does not understand the influence he has on young people.
James scored 14 points as the 76ers defeated the Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and is scheduled to play his first home game for Philadelphia against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.