LeBron James performed golf-style hip turns during the national anthem on Thursday night before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, a move appearing to respond directly to President Donald Trump's earlier condemnation of his on-court behavior. The incident occurred hours after Trump posted on Truth Social that James had disrespected the country, labeling him a "total disgrace" and demanding an apology to American warriors and heroes.
During the anthem, James was observed standing normally before executing movements that golfers recognize as hip turns used in warmups. The Philadelphia Inquirer described the actions as "stretching," while golfers identify the specific technique differently. This display followed a video of James's antics during a previous 76ers game that Trump, described as a noted golf fanatic, cited as evidence of disrespect.
Trump continued to address the situation during a campaign stop in Iowa that same evening. He asked voters if they had seen James practicing his golf swing, stating, "I said, what the hell is that? I don't understand it." In his initial Truth Social post, Trump wrote that James "disrespects our Country" and should apologize to those who died for the American flag.
After the game, James responded to questions about the controversy with the comment, "Slow news day at the office." The anthem performance was characterized as a clear shot back at Trump, noting that James had previously avoided similar antics during the Chinese anthem.