Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – A video recorded in the stands at Madison Square Garden that went viral on social media has sparked a new controversy between LeBron James and Donald Trump. At the center of the controversy are some of the NBA champion's movements during the playing of the US national anthem before the game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the video, James is captured practicing some typical golf swing movements and free throws, while the players around him remain motionless in line. The images quickly went viral online, even coming to the attention of the President of the United States, who has long been critical of the basketball star.
Trump took to social media platform 'Truth' to express his opinion, openly accusing the player of disrespecting the country during a symbolic moment like the national anthem.
“While listening to our national anthem, LeBron James disrespects our country!” the president wrote, calling the basketball player’s behavior a “TOTAL SHAME.” In his message, Trump also argued that James should apologize to the military and American heroes who have fallen for the flag and the values it represents.
The player's response came after the Philadelphia 76ers' victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a game marked by a remarkable comeback, with James' team able to recover from a 29-point deficit. When asked about the president's comments, James chose not to directly fuel the controversy, responding with a short, ironic phrase: "There must have been very little news in the newsroom. Very little news." The president's comments didn't stop with the message posted online. During a subsequent rally in Sioux City,
In Iowa, Trump returned to the episode, recounting to those present what he saw in the video. "Did you see what happened with LeBron James? During the national anthem, he was practicing his golf swing. When I saw it, I was like, 'What the hell? This is a huge scandal. I don't understand this.'"
The clash comes at a politically delicate time for the United States. Midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, which will renew all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and approximately a third of the Senate. The outcome of the vote will significantly impact the balance of power in Congress and the Trump administration's ability to advance its agenda in the second half of its presidential term. In this context, an incident stemming from a video filmed during a basketball game has also become the subject of public debate. James chose irony to dismiss the accusations, while Trump insisted on the gravity of the act, turning the episode into a new chapter in their long-running feud.
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