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WASHINGTON, D.C. · DC & NATIONAL EDITION · FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026
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LeBron James Shrugs Off Trump Anthem Criticism

Published October 23, 2026 at 8:24 am | By HERE City National Desk, Staff Reporter

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From the HERE City National Desk

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — LeBron James brushed aside President Donald Trump’s latest attack Thursday night, laughing off the criticism after the Philadelphia 76ers rallied past Cleveland and suggesting it must have been a slow day for news.

Earlier Thursday, Trump posted a video on social media showing James moving around as the anthem played ahead of the Sixers opener Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The president said James had disrespected the country, called him a total disgrace and said he owed an apology to the service members who died for the flag.

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In the clip, James stretches his arms, appears to rehearse a golf swing and mimics a jump shot while most teammates beside him stand largely still. Trump also raised the episode at a rally in Iowa on Thursday.

Before the Thursday home opener against the Cavaliers, James appeared far more stationary during the anthem at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

The two have traded shots for years. In 2018 Trump questioned the intelligence of James, and in July the president said he preferred Michael Jordan as the greatest player and speculated about whether James was a racist. James, 41, is the career scoring leader in NBA history and signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia in July.

He scored 14 points in a 106-100 win over the defending champion Knicks on Tuesday, and the Sixers are now 2-0.

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Section: More Washington DC sports news

Filed under: Washington DC Sports News

What's Happening
What did the president say?
Trump said James disrespected the country by moving during the anthem before Tuesday's game in New York and should apologize.
How did James respond?
He laughed it off after Thursday's win and said it must have been a slow news day.
Have they clashed before?
Yes. The two have criticized each other publicly since at least 2018.
HERE City National Desk
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HERE is a staff reporter for HERE WashingtonDC covering local news, community stories, and developments across Washington, D.C.. HERE is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.

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