Trump Calls LeBron James a 'Total Disgrace' Over Anthem Movements, James Shrugs It Off

President Donald Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States on Thursday, sharing a video that showed the Philadelphia 76ers star moving through warmup motions during the national anthem before the season opener in New York. The attack came hours before James made his home debut in Philadelphia, on a night that ended with a record comeback win and a short answer for the president, the Associated Press reported.

The video was shot from the crowd at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, before the 76ers beat the New York Knicks 106-100. As Avery Wilson sang the anthem, James stood at the end of the lineup and appeared to go through rotational exercises, miming a golf swing and a shooting motion while most of his teammates stood still. The footage spread online on Wednesday. James, 41, was playing his first game for Philadelphia and opening a record 24th NBA season. He finished that game with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

The post, then the rally

On Thursday, Trump posted the video on his Truth Social platform. "While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country," he 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!"

Trump returned to the subject at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday night, calling the exercises a "golf swing" and "a big scandal kind of a story." The attack landed less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, USA Today noted, and revived a subject Trump has used before: during his first term he attacked NFL players who knelt during the anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality.

Head bowed, then a comeback

In Philadelphia on Thursday night, Boyz II Men sang the anthem before the home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. James put his arms behind his back and bowed his head, and he was introduced to a loud ovation from a crowd of roughly 20,000, the AP reported. Before the game, 76ers coach Nick Nurse placed the president's post among the distractions his team has been trained to ignore. "I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had," Nurse said. "All I really care about is getting them to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor."

On the court, Philadelphia trailed Cleveland by 29 points and rallied to win 114-106, the biggest comeback win of James's career, according to the AP. James had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Asked about Trump's comments after the game, he did not discuss the anthem movements themselves. "It must be a slow news day at the office," he said. "Slow news day at the office."

A feud that predates Philadelphia

Trump and James have criticized each other in public for years. James campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and backed Trump's later Democratic opponents. Speaking in the Oval Office in July, Trump suggested James could be "racist" and said Michael Jordan was the superior basketball player, USA Today reported. Philadelphia is James's fourth team. No apology had been issued by Friday morning.