LeBron James Brushes Off Trump’s Anthem Criticism With a Dry One-Liner

LeBron James had little to say about Donald Trump’s latest criticism, responding with a brief quip after the president accused him of disrespecting the national anthem. The dispute followed a pregame moment at Madison Square Garden on October 20, when James was seen continuing his warmups as the anthem played before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the New York Knicks. A video showed the basketball star making golf-swing and shooting motions during the song. Two days later, Trump attacked James in a Truth Social post and repeated the criticism at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa. He called the player a “total disgrace” and said he should apologize to American service members and others who died for the country. At the rally, Trump told the crowd that James had been practicing his golf swing during the anthem. He described the moment as a scandal and questioned what the player was doing. The president’s comments made the warmup footage a political talking point, while James did not initially respond publicly. That changed after the 76ers’ 114-106 comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22. Asked by reporters about Trump’s remarks, James shrugged them off rather than getting drawn into a lengthy exchange. “It must be a slow news day at the office, you know? A slow news day at the office,” he said. The account describes no apology or extended response from James. Instead, his short answer suggested he was not treating the president’s criticism as a major issue. Trump, meanwhile, had framed the player’s movements during the anthem as disrespectful and called for him to apologize.