“Don’t listen to the president on this”: Stephen A. Smith weighs in after Trump calls LeBron James a “disgrace” for warming up during national anthem

On October 23, Stephen A. Smith reacted after Trump called LeBron James a ‘disgrace’ amid national anthem controversy. The NBA player has garnered much attention on the internet lately for practicing his golf swing during the national anthem. Trump slammed LeBron for allegedly being respectful to the national anthem.

The American TV personality, Stephen A. Smith, weighed in on the controversy urging his viewers to not listen to Trump on LeBron James’ issue. He said;

“Don't listen to the president on this one.”

He further said that the POTUS wants everyone to listen to the national anthem with their hand on their hearts. Stephen emphasized that even he doesn’t listen to the national anthem in that manner, saying that he either folds his hands in front of him or behind him and bows his head respectfully. Stephen A. Smith said:

“Listen, the president and others will bring up this point that you're supposed to stand there with the national anthem being played, hand on heart listening to our national anthem. I personally have never done that. I stand still whether my hands are folded in front of me or behind my back. I bow my head. I listen to our national anthem respectfully.”

He went on to defend LeBron James, saying that several NBA players do different gestures while listening to the national anthem. The podcaster noted that some players might stand with their hands in their pockets, others with their hands on the front, and some might even clap respectfully while listening to the anthem. He added:

“Numerous NBA players, professional football players, baseball players and beyond from this country and beyond sometimes sit there with their hands in their pockets. Sometimes sit there with their hands folded behind their back, sometimes sit there with their hands folded in front of them, and they're respectfully listening to the national anthem in its entirety before moving on and getting ready to play. Sometimes they're clapping and walking away before the national anthem is finished, getting ready to play a game.”

The podcaster pointed out that it happens all the time in games, but the president never says anything. Stephen A. Smith went on to dub LeBron James as an ‘expedient’ tool for the president ahead of the midterm elections.

“It makes LeBron James a politically expedient tool to use as the midterms approach because it's about 10 days away. The midterms, in case you haven't noticed, are coming up. The Democrats are expected to win the House,” Smith added.

Stephen said that the POTUS is stirring the 'cup' to win the upcoming elections. He added that Trump targeted sports as it is the only place where ‘race’ is virtually ‘invisible’ as people of different races come together to participate.

“Sports is the closest thing to what we allude to being a gorgeous mosaic in the United States of America. It's the ONE PLACE WHERE YOU COULD go where race is virtually invisible. BLACKS, WHITE, HISPANICS, ASIANS, JEWS, CATHOLICS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, IT DOESN'T MATTER,” Stephen said.

Trump demanded an apology from LeBron James

In his recent Truth Social post, the president criticized the NBA star and also demanded an apology for allegedly being disrespectful to the national anthem. Trump wrote:

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“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country! I said right from the beginning that he's no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”

King James clapped back at the president for attacking him. He said that it must have been a ‘slow news day’ at the office.

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