Trump attacks LeBron after pregame movements during the national anthem

While attention in the Balkans has focused on the public tiff between Novak Ðoković and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, a similar moment of sport and politics unfolded in the United States this week involving President Donald Trump and LeBron James.

Trump posted a clip on his Truth Social account on Thursday attacking the four-time NBA champion for movements he made during the US national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener in New York.

Trump demands an apology

In the video, James stood alongside teammates and made stretching-like motions while the anthem played. Trump interpreted those gestures as a sign of disrespect and demanded that James apologise.

Posting the clip, Trump wrote: "While listening to our national anthem, LeBron James does not respect our country! From the very beginning I said he is not good, a total disgrace."

He added: "LeBron James should apologize to all the great American warriors and heroes who died for the American flag and for everything our country stands for." At the time of the first reports, James had not publicly answered the president.

The footage was recorded on Tuesday, before Philadelphia’s first game of the season against the New York Knicks in New York. What began as the start of a new chapter in James’s playing career quickly picked up a political aftershock.

Photo: press material from the event