Donald Trump lashes out at LeBron James and brands NBA icon a ‘total disgrace’ after he ‘disrespected’ the national anthem

Footage of the Philadelphia 76ers star quickly went viral after their victory over the NBA champion New York Knicks on the first day of the new NBA season.

It showed James pretending to swing a golf club at Madison Square Garden as The Star-Spangled Banner was performed before also practicing his free throw technique.

Trump, a vocal critic of James in the past, lashed out at him in an explosive Truth Social post on Thursday.

The President 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.

‘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!’

The comments mark the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between the four-time NBA champion and Trump, which dates back to James labeling him a ‘bum’ in 2017. 

Earlier this year, Trump launched an astonishing attack on James just hours after the 41-year-old revealed he’d be signing with the 76ers.

Just hours after LeBron’s 24th season in the NBA was confirmed, Trump was asked to weigh in on who holds the title of the greatest basketball player of all time.

‘Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine, I’ve played golf with him,’ Trump said.

‘He’s a really good guy and I think LeBron is – maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know – but I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.’

James, 41, has frequently used his platform to criticize Trump, previously endorsing Democratic candidates and launching voting-rights initiatives across the country.

Their bad blood spilled into the public eye during Trump’s first presidency after he withdrew a White House invitation extended to Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry over his hesitation to visit.

Outraged by the gesture, James immediately jumped to his rival’s defense, tweeting at Trump: ‘U bum, Steph Curry already said he ain’t going! So, therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!’

Trump launched an astonishing attack on James this summer, claiming ‘maybe he’s a racist’

Trump and James previously traded verbal barbs on social media back in 2018

The public spat escalated in 2018 when Trump announced he was pre-emptively banning both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors from visiting the nation’s capital following that year’s NBA Finals.

Refusing to be fazed, James swiftly shut down the snub, declaring at the time: ‘Winning a championship is way bigger than getting invited to the White House, especially with him in it.’

Later that year, James voiced his frustration with the President’s leadership during an interview with ESPN, admitting it made him ‘sick’ to see how Trump handled the moral authority of the Oval Office.

‘He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country,’ James said at the time. ‘He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the President of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.’

James’s political opposition to Trump stretches back to 2016, when he penned an emotional op-ed for his local newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal, endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.

Reflecting on his childhood in a single-parent home, James argued that Clinton was the only candidate who truly understood the plight of underprivileged youth, praising her as a champion for children alongside his ‘good friend’ Barack Obama.

James’ political opposition to Trump stretches back to 2016, when he penned an emotional op-ed for his local newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal, endorsing Hillary Clinton for president

James and the Sixers spoiled the Knicks’ banner raising party with a 106-100 victory Tuesday

James got a rough welcome in his debut game as a 76er when he took to the court against the Knicks. The occasion grew testy as James was seen shouting back at fans near the floor of the Garden multiple times.

At one point in the second quarter, he was seen saying multiple words to baseline fans during a live play.

During another instance at the free throw line, James was seen shouting over to one fan where he could be seen cursing them out.

‘You don’t know what the f*** you talkin about,’ James appeared to say. ‘I’m not from the West Coast. I’m from Ohio, baby. Ay, f*** you talkin about.’

According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Knicks superfan Spike Lee stood up to try and keep things calm between James and the fan. 

Later in the game, James was seen walking back over to the fan and dapping him up to diffuse the situation.

James joined the Sixers over the summer after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.

The Sixers, who return to action on Thursday night against James’s former Cleveland Cavaliers team, spoiled the Knicks’ banner raising party with a 106-100 victory.

James led the team in assists with seven alongside 14 points and nine rebounds in his Philadelphia debut. Guard Tyrese Maxey led the team in scoring with 28 points plus four rebounds and five assists.