Trump accuses LeBron James of disrespecting US during national anthem

The Independent and BBC report that President Donald Trump has publicly condemned NBA star LeBron James, saying James showed disrespect toward the country during the national anthem before a game. Trump posted a video on social media and said James should apologize to the Americans who died for the flag.

In the clip, James, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, stands with teammates but appears to move around. The Independent describes him stretching and miming basketball shots, while BBC says he also seemed to practice a golf swing as a performer sang at Madison Square Garden. BBC notes that his teammates mostly stayed still. The two outlets differ on timing: The Independent says the game was Tuesday night, BBC says Wednesday and calls it a season opener. The Independent adds that the 76ers beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100 in James's debut for the team, with the 41-year-old scoring 14 points.

BBC adds that James has not replied, though the two men have traded criticism before. It says Trump called James a "TOTAL DISGRACE" and, in July, favored Michael Jordan over him. The Independent recalls Trump's 2017 attacks on NFL players who knelt during the anthem.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent and BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent → Also at BBC →