"While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country," Trump wrote. "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!" He added: "I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE."

Accounts of what James did differ. Videos from the game show him on the sideline while other players stood in line for the anthem. Some reports describe golf swings and jump-shot motions, and one video caption called it "working on his golf swing pregame." Others describe stretching and basketball movements as part of a warm-up. One report said Trump also cited James's conduct during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while most accounts point only to the opener in New York.

Trump returned to the subject in a speech separate from the post. "I don't understand it," he said, calling the episode "a big scandal kind of story." A 76ers representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

James, 41, is starting his 24th NBA season, a league record, and the 76ers are his fourth team. The two men have clashed for years. Their dispute dates to a 2017 social media exchange involving Steph Curry and the White House. James has backed Democratic candidates in races involving Trump and has been a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement since 2020. Trump said in 2020 that he preferred Michael Jordan to James, and earlier this year he repeated the preference to reporters, saying, "I only like people who like me." He also speculated that James might be racist or might simply dislike him.

The post fits a longer pattern of Trump criticizing athletes over the anthem. That pattern goes back to quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. In 2018 Trump canceled a planned White House visit by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles over anthem disagreements. In February he criticized freestyle skier Hunter Hess at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Fans split over James. Some called him "an embarrassment" and "anti-American." Others defended him, including one who wrote, "LeBron has the freedom to do what he wants. It's what makes this country great."

When Trump's post was reposted on X, most replies were critical of him. Some users called him a "draft dodger" and attacked his economic and foreign policies. According to US press reports, Trump received four educational deferments and one medical deferment during the Vietnam War era. The medical deferment cited bone spurs, a diagnosis critics have questioned.