The Aporia · How LeBron James acted this time after national anthem

How LeBron James acted this time after national anthem — and Trump’s evisceration

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Gamba-Ellis, T. (2026, October 23). How LeBron James acted this time after national anthem — and Trump’s evisceration. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/22/sports/how-lebron-james-acted-this-time-after-national-anthem-and-trumps-evisceration/

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Quick Summary

During Thursday's game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James stood motionless during the national anthem at Wells Fargo Arena, unlike his animated behavior on Tuesday which prompted President Donald Trump to criticize him on Truth Social, demanding an apology for disrespecting the country. While James has not commented on Trump’s remarks or explained his differing actions, WNBA players are also facing backlash from Vice President JD Vance for jogging off the court during the national anthem in the Finals, a routine they maintain is part of their pregame ritual and unrelated to any political statement.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-23, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

On October 23, LeBron James remained motionless during the national anthem before a game between the Cavaliers and 76ers at Wells Fargo Arena. Earlier that week, videos of James swinging his arms and mimicking shooting motions during the anthem against the Knicks went viral. In response, President Donald Trump criticized James on Truth Social, calling him disrespectful to the United States and urging him to apologize to veterans and heroes who died for the country. Despite widespread coverage, James has not commented publicly on Trump's remarks or explained his actions.

Written for “LeBron James National Anthem Response” on 2026-10-23, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Why this leaning score

The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.65, but all 4 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.

Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.

Leaning score withheld for article 100747: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-23

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

What is the history behind Trump’s LeBron blast over US national anthem? different event · 85%

Al Jazeera

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 28 📰 publisher trust 60

“While both articles discuss LeBron James's actions during the national anthem at a recent game and Trump's reaction to them, they describe different occurrences: one incident on Tuesday (which triggered Trump's initial response) and another contrasting behavior on Thursday.”

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 11 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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withheld

no quote in the article backed the model's score

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Sports

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articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Thomas Gamba-Ellis

37 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 Colts running back Jonathan Taylor might see himself in a new uniform come this year’s trade deadline — and a few teams are already showing interest.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Multiple teams interested in trading for Colts’ Jonathan Taylor as deadline looms

🔮 “Todd will forever be remembered by Reds fans for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember so much more,” Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum, said in a statement.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Todd Benzinger, Reds World Series champ, dead at 63

🔮 Cooper, 28, has yet to be allowed to practice or play in games this season, but will now be available to play in Denver’s Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals.

2026-10-17 · mixed framing · Broncos star coming off commissioner’s exempt list — but still could be suspended

🔮 During an appearance on “NFL Gameday Kickoff” on Thursday, Robinson, a former Pro Bowl fullback, theorized that the Eagles could be using Hurts’ injury as a means to eventually move on from the quarterback.

2026-10-17 · mixed framing · NFL Network analyst has doubts about Eagles’ Jalen Hurts story

🔮 “To tell you about who Megan was would take 25 years,” her family said in a heartbreaking statement shared during a Friday press conference.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Teacher, 25, killed by Oregon school shooter ID’d as volleyball coach Megan Lambert: ‘She lit up the room’

🔮 Caleb Williams wants to clear the air surrounding his injury.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Caleb Williams reveals full extent of injury as he blasts reporting of ‘false ones’

🔮 “Tyler will join many of our loved ones that have passed.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · College football player dead after suffering ‘traumatic injury’ during game

🔮 Backup QB Tanner McKee, selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, will likely start for the Eagles as Hurts is sidelined with a blood clot in his calf.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Meet Tanner McKee, the Eagles backup expected to start after Jalen Hurts’ blood clot scare

🔮 “Heidi was a cherished member of the Virginia Women’s Basketball family, her legacy will forever be a part of Virginia Athletics.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Heidi Burge Horton, college and WNBA star who inspired Disney movie, dead at 54

🔮 Trump, who was expected to attend the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., said Friday that he will not be going due to extreme weather threats from Hurricane Isaias. “Based on the fact that a huge Hurricane/Storm is coming, it is important to have our wonderful First Responders, Law Enforcement, and others, focused on that Storm, and in no way be thinking about the safety, or presence, of the President of the United States, ME!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday afternoon.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Trump not attending hyped Alabama-Georgia game as Hurricane Isaias barrels toward Gulf

Also by Thomas Gamba-Ellis

Multiple teams interested in trading for Colts’ Jonathan Taylor as deadline looms

2026-10-23 · New York Post

Todd Benzinger, Reds World Series champ, dead at 63

2026-10-23 · New York Post

Broncos star coming off commissioner’s exempt list — but still could be suspended

2026-10-17 · New York Post

Kirk Herbstreit tears into Notre Dame for ‘embarrassment’ of a schedule

2026-10-17 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 37 articles by Thomas Gamba-Ellis →

Claims (11 extracted, 0 hedged)

Video from the Philadelphia Inquirer showed James straight-faced with his arms behind his back while the anthem played at Wells Fargo Arena, a stark contrast to his movements before Philadelphia’s season-opener against the Knicks. asserted

anthem → show → Knicks

During the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Tuesday, video spread on social media of James swinging his arms and mimicking shooting motions. asserted

James → spread → motions

President Donald Trump caught wind of the viral video and slammed the 22-time All-Star’s antics, saying that he should apologize for disrespecting the United States. “While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump said in a scathing post on Truth Social Thursday afternoon. asserted

Trump → catch → Social

“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. asserted

he → say → beginning

“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!” asserted

Country → apologize → that

James, 41, has yet to publicly comment on Trump’s comments or why he was performing different movements during the national anthem. asserted

he → have → anthem

The situation also comes while the WNBA is facing heat for players on the Dream and Valkyries jogging off the court before the anthem during the Finals, with Vice President JD Vance calling the action “disgraceful.” asserted

Vance → come → action

“I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large,” Vance said during an interview on the “Arroyo Grande” podcast Wednesday. asserted

Vance → think → podcast

“I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have.” asserted

they → mean → that

Both teams, however, say that it’s a part of their routine before the game, claiming that they have left the court for the anthem all season. “We’ve been doing that,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton told reporters before Game 2. asserted

Burton → say → Game

“That’s just our pregame routine. asserted

That → ’ → ?

How LeBron James acted this time after national anthem — and Trump’s evisceration

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Claims (11 extracted, 0 hedged)