Overview
- Video from the season opener at Madison Square Garden shows LeBron James making arm movements during the national anthem when the Philadelphia 76ers played the New York Knicks, and he scored eight points in a 106-100 loss.
- President Donald Trump shared that clip on Truth Social and called James a "total disgrace," demanding an apology from the player.
- News outlets note there is no public evidence the arm movements were a deliberate political protest and that LeBron has not publicly explained his actions.
- The exchange revives a long personal and political rivalry between Trump and James that began in 2017 over athletes using pregame moments to press social issues.
- Team staff described the president's comments as a distraction from on-court work, and the episode highlights how short social videos can escalate into broader partisan disputes over athletes' conduct.