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A pre-game moment at Madison Square Garden has triggered a public dispute between US President Donald Trump and basketball star LeBron James, after the president criticised the player’s movements during the American national anthem.
Trump reacted to a video of the incident on his Truth Social platform, describing James’ behaviour as unacceptable and insisting that he should apologise to American military personnel and those who lost their lives defending the country.
The footage emerged from the Philadelphia 76ers’ meeting with the New York Knicks on October 20. It showed James carrying out warm-up gestures as the anthem played, prompting debate about the conduct expected of athletes during national ceremonies.
James did not appear to give the criticism much attention. In his response, he suggested that the uproar was happening because there was little else making news, rather than treating the president’s comments as a major issue.
The disagreement comes against the background of previous public clashes between the two men, particularly over political discussions and social issues. James has frequently spoken about matters beyond basketball, while Trump has criticised him on previous occasions.
Despite the online debate, the attention surrounding the incident has not changed the 76ers’ immediate priorities, with the team continuing its NBA campaign.
