Donald Trump and LeBron James feud has roots going back a decade

Donald Trump and LeBron James' feud has its origins dating back a decade. Recently, Trump renewed his criticism on social media, calling James a "TOTAL DISGRACE" for not standing during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers began their season against the New York Knicks. James responded calmly, saying "Slow news day at the office."

However, the animosity between the two has a longer history. Trump, who resides primarily in Palm Beach, has a longstanding feud with James, who has endorsed or campaigned for Trump's political opponents since the 2016 presidential election. The insults exchanged have varied, from James calling Trump a "bum" and accusing him of enabling racists to Trump insulting James' intelligence and suggesting he might be a "racist."

The root of their conflict lies in James' refusal to "just shut up and dribble," as suggested by Fox News host Laura Ingraham nearly a decade ago when James criticized Trump during his first term. This set the stage for Trump's personal attacks on James and other athletes who disagree with his policies.

Even before Ingraham's statement, James had spoken out against Trump during his presidency. When the Warriors decided not to visit the White House post their 2016-17 NBA title, James called Trump a "bum" and criticized the decision as an honor spoiled. In 2018, James appeared on CNN and criticized Trump for using sports to divide people, stating he would never sit across from the president. In the same year, James accused Trump of enabling racists and suggested Trump's rhetoric contributed to the U.S. Capitol riot in 2021.

Despite this estrangement, Trump once referred to James as a "great guy." This was evident in his support for James during his time with the Heat, praising him as one of Miami's largest landowners and congratulating him on being named ESPN's male athlete of the year in 2013. However, this goodwill faded with time, and Trump's recent attacks on James continued to resurface.