LeBron James is drawing MAGA backlash after a video showed him swinging a golf club during the national anthem before the Lakers’ Christmas Day loss.
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Footage of LeBron James practicing his golf swing during the national anthem before the Lakers’ Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets sparked outrage from MAGA supporters.
The 40-year-old NBA legend was caught on camera warming up and practicing his swing during the “Star-Spangled Banner” performance in the arena.
The incident reignited longstanding tensions between James and Trump supporters, who have criticized the Lakers star’s political activities for years. Social media erupted with angry reactions from MAGA followers, who called his actions disrespectful.
“Comrade James is just showing his Chinese colors,” one user posted, referring to past controversies over James’ comments on China and the Hong Kong protests.
Another netizen wrote: “You are such a P0S. If you hate this country so much (which by the way makes you rich), then get lost.”
As usual, LeBron James disrespected the national anthem.
Is there a bigger scumbag in the NBA than this D-Bag? pic.twitter.com/Kk6CDwsglK
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) December 27, 2025
The golf swing incident occurred before the Lakers lost 119-96 to Houston on Christmas Day. James scored 18 points in the loss, but admitted before the game that he would rather go home and be with his family than play during the holidays.
In recent months, James has become obsessed with golf, often posting videos of himself on the course. He said in August that he was “addicted” to the game, joining the ranks of other NBA legends such as Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry who became avid golfers during their careers.
Curry even mocked LeBron James’ swing at the Celebrity Championship, calling it “rookie bullying” while saying James has “good bones” for the game.
The Christmas controversy adds to James’s history of conflict with Trump supporters, who view his activism as unpatriotic. Conservative critics have repeatedly told him to focus on basketball rather than politics, but James remains committed to his right to speak out on social issues affecting his community.
In 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told James to “shut up and dribble” after he criticized then-President Trump. James fired back, saying he would never “shut up and dribble” because he has too many responsibilities to the community.
James has been a frequent critic of Trump throughout the president’s political career. He called Trump’s comments divisive and said the Capitol riot on January 6 happened “because of him.” The NBA star has also endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and posted a video comparing Trump’s language to historical violence.
