4 minSports
LeBron James Draws Trump Criticism Over Anthem Golf Swing
LeBron James practiced his golf swing during the national anthem before a 76ers game, prompting criticism from President Donald Trump and a debate over how the moment was described.
LeBron James drew sharp criticism from President Donald Trump after he was shown practicing his golf swing during the playing of the United States national anthem before his 76ers debut on Tuesday. Trump later called James's conduct a « TOTAL DISGRACE » in a social media post. The episode quickly became a broader debate about how the incident was described in sports media.
The central fact is simple: James took part in a golf swing while « The Star-Spangled Banner » was played. Trump's criticism followed, and the dispute turned on how that behavior should be characterized. On Thursday, published a headline saying that Trump criticized James « for not standing still during the national anthem. » That framing drew objections from commentators who argued it understated what happened. Describing the act as merely failing to stand still, they said, did not capture that James was practicing a swing during the anthem. Commentators argued that the framing minimized the conduct at the center of the controversy and suggested that the headline writers either wished to protect James or implicitly agreed he had acted wrongly.
Critics also noted that the incident was not isolated. James was caught practicing his swing during the national anthem on Christmas Day the previous year, according to the commentary. Some observers pointed out that athletes who kneel during the anthem typically frame their action as protest, while James offered no such explanation. Commentators also referenced his earlier criticism of NBA executive Daryl Morey over Morey's support for Hong Kong protesters, arguing the anthem behavior was inconsistent with that stance. The same commentary questioned how much James still benefits the NBA's brand as he moves into the later stages of his career. He turns 42 in December and has averaged 15 points per game through his first two games this season, a figure the commentary attributed to a decline from his former level of play, while acknowledging that his place among the greatest players in NBA history is secure.
Coverage of the episode also reached beyond sports commentary. A separate report said James laughed off Trump's demand for an apology, dismissing the president's call for him to apologize. The details of that exchange were not fully available in the material reviewed, but the report placed the response within the same week of criticism. The matter has therefore become a point of public attention in which the sports figure, the sports media and the sitting president have each been drawn into the same dispute.
The episode also invites a wider question about the NBA's relationship with its most prominent player at a time when the league is building its brand around him and his legacy. Commentary on the subject argued that the league has to weigh how much James still contributes to that brand as his playing career moves toward its close. Those assessments were offered by critics and were not presented as settled conclusions. For now, the incident remains an example of how a brief moment during a pregame ritual can become the basis for a national argument about patriotism, professional conduct and how the press chooses its words.
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