Trump Demands Apology From LeBron James Over Anthem Warmups
President Donald Trump demanded an apology from NBA star LeBron James, accusing him of disrespecting the United States by continuing his warmups during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers' season opener at Madison Square Garden.
Tallahassee Thomasville, FL, October 23, 2026 —
President Donald Trump demanded an apology from NBA star LeBron James, accusing him of disrespecting the United States by continuing his warmups during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener at Madison Square Garden.
The account of the incident identifies the game as the 76ers’ season opener and Madison Square Garden as its venue. It does not provide a date for the game or specify when Trump made the demand. It also does not include the wording of his remarks beyond the demand for an apology and the accusation of disrespect.
The information provided does not state whether James responded to Trump, whether he addressed the anthem or his warmup routine, or whether the 76ers or the NBA issued a statement. No additional details are available about what happened at the arena or how the demand was received.
The episode centers on Trump’s criticism of James over his conduct during the anthem. The available account does not provide further context about James’s actions, including how long he continued warming up or whether he stopped at any point. It also does not identify any other people who commented on the matter.
As a result, the reported information establishes Trump’s demand and the basis for his accusation, but leaves key details unresolved. The date, the precise timing and wording of Trump’s remarks, and any response from James or the teams were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.wtxl.com, see more information here.
