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Trump says LeBron James disrespected the national anthem and demands an apology

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

25 articles in total, 6 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Donald Trump accused NBA star LeBron James of disrespecting the national anthem in a Truth Social post on Thursday and called for an apology. Trump called James a ‘total disgrace’ and said he should apologize to American service members who died for the flag. The post came with video of James making arm movements and golf-swing and shooting motions during the anthem before a Philadelphia 76ers game. The Guardian reports that the video carried an on-screen caption saying James was working on his golf swing pregame. James responded dismissively, saying “It must be a slow news day at the office.” Trump later renewed the attack at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Trump accused LeBron James on Truth Social of disrespecting the national anthem during a 76ers game.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left3Center2Right1Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    HuffPost, The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Independent, Al Jazeera English, The Guardian
    Center
    The Hill, BBC News
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Just the News, Fox News, Breitbart News, RedState

  2. Trump called James a ‘total disgrace’ and urged him to apologize.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left1Center2Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    HuffPost, The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    The Hill, BBC News
    Far Right
    Fox News, Breitbart News, RedState

  3. Video shows James moving his arms and making golf-swing and shooting motions during the anthem.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    BBC News
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Fox News, Breitbart News, RedState

  4. The video’s on-screen caption said James was working on his golf swing pregame.

    One outletThe Guardian· Left

  5. James replied dismissively, saying it must be a slow news day at the office.

    One side only: the leftReported byFar Left1Left1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The Guardian

  6. Trump repeated the attack at a campaign rally in Iowa and called it ‘a big scandal kind of a story’.

    One outletThe Guardian· Left

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • James’s movements during the anthem were disrespectful to the country.

    Trump and right-side outlets say the video shows disrespect for the anthem. The Guardian reports an on-screen caption saying James was working on his golf swing pregame, and reports James shrugged off the criticism.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All sides report Trump’s Truth Social post calling LeBron James’s anthem conduct a ‘total disgrace’ and demanding an apology. Right outlets stress the apology and the video, left outlets stress James’s dismissive reply and sharper labels, and center outlets stick closer to Trump’s words.

  • the left

    6 outlets

    Left headlines report Trump’s accusation and James’s dismissive reply; the Far Left Daily Beast and HuffPost add ‘taunts’, ‘meltdown’ and all-caps outrage.

    ‘Slow news day at the office’: LeBron James shrugs off Trump’s national anthem attack
    The GuardianLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center headlines attribute the accusation with ‘says’ or ‘criticizes’ and report Trump’s demand for an apology, with the video detail left mostly to the description.

    Trump says NBA star LeBron James disrespected US anthem and Loaded verb“demands apology”The word demands presents the request for an apology as stronger than the post’s wording that James should apologize.More neutral: calls for an apologyDisagree with this highlight?
    BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets · 4 opinion

    Right headlines lead with Trump’s ‘total disgrace’ remark or his apology demand; the Far Right Fox News and RedState add ‘antics’, ‘diss’ and ‘feud’, mirroring the left’s ‘taunts’.

    Trump Calls for LeBron James to Apologize for His Behavior During National Anthem: 'Loaded modifier“Total Disgrace”A harsh personal insult quoted from Trump, given prominence in the headline without a neutral description of the conduct.More neutral: criticismThese are Donald Trump’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?'
    Breitbart NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left6

    fumedlashed outcondemningbrutally dismissive burn

  • Center2

    attackeddemands apology

  • Right25

    anticsexcoriatedmore disrespectfulGets Roasted

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    anticsMore neutral: actions

    “Antics” dismisses James’s conduct as a stunt rather than describing what he did.

    Trump blasts LeBron James as a 'total disgrace' over his national anthem antics during 76ers debut

    Used byFox News (Far Right)New York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    fumedMore neutral: posted

    Describes Trump’s post as anger, adding emotional judgement the post does not state.

    President Donald Trump fumed about basketball star LeBron James on Truth Social Thursday, accusing the athlete of…

    Used byHuffPost (Far Left)The Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    lashed outMore neutral: responded or criticized

    Implies loss of control.

    …pregame warm-up James helps Sixers erase 29-point deficit against Cavs Donald Trump lashed out at NBA superstar LeBron James on Thursday for what he called disrespectful behavior…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)HuffPost (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    excoriatedMore neutral: criticized

    The verb adds anger and judgement beyond reporting that Trump criticized James.

    President Donald Trump on Thursday excoriated basketball player LeBron James over his conduct during the playing of the national…

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

Show 29 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    more disrespectfulMore neutral: Criticized as disrespectful by some viewers

    The writer presents his own judgment of James’s conduct as fact.

    Short of kneeling or raising his middle finger, it couldn’t have gotten more disrespectful.

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Gets RoastedMore neutral: Is Criticized

    The verb roasted adds mockery to a report that James was criticized.

    LeBron James Gets Roasted For Disrespect to National Anthem: 'This Is How He Shows His Gratitude'

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    is at it againMore neutral: was filmed practicing during the anthem

    Suggests a pattern of misconduct by James, a judgement the description does not support with facts.

    LeBron James is at it again.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    couldn’t even manage to stand stillMore neutral: did not stand still

    Judges James’s conduct as a failure of effort rather than describing what he did.

    On Tuesday night, the billionaire Philadelphia 76ers star couldn’t even manage to stand still and show a little respect for Old Glory.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    like a warm-up routineMore neutral: while practicing a golf swing

    Mocks James’s conduct to manufacture contempt rather than describing it.

    While the anthem played, King James treated the Star-Spangled Banner like a warm-up routine.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    LeFraudMore neutral: LeBron James

    The nickname dismisses the player as a fraud without evidence.

    LeFraud has done it again.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    prima donnasMore neutral: players

    The label casts NBA players as a contemptible group.

    …a mission to make NBA players look like ungrateful, unpatriotic, and disrespectful prima donnas, NBA superstar Lebron James has incited controversy with his disgraceful behavior…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    disgraceful behaviorMore neutral: behavior during the anthem

    The adjective is the writer’s verdict, not a description of the conduct.

    …prima donnas, NBA superstar Lebron James has incited controversy with his disgraceful behavior at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Stokes OutrageMore neutral: Draws Criticism

    The phrase manufactures drama by framing a reaction as widespread outrage.

    LeBron Stokes Outrage With Disgraceful Action He Takes During National Anthem

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Disgraceful ActionMore neutral: Anthem Conduct

    The adjective pre-judges the conduct before the facts are weighed.

    LeBron Stokes Outrage With Disgraceful Action He Takes During National Anthem

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    condemningMore neutral: criticizing

    The verb adds a moral verdict to what Trump said.

    US President Donald Trump took aim at NBA star LeBron James on Thursday, condemning the basketball player for conduct he deemed disrespectful while the national anthem…

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    attackedMore neutral: criticized

    The verb frames criticism as an assault.

    President Trump attacked NBA superstar LeBron James for not standing still during the National Anthem before…

    Used byThe Hill (Center)

  • Sensational language

    back in the crosshairsMore neutral: criticized again

    The phrase makes a routine public criticism sound like an attack.

    LeBron James is officially back in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump over his performative antics during the national…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    performative anticsMore neutral: movements during the anthem

    “Performative” asserts that James’s movements were staged for effect, which the report does not establish.

    …James is officially back in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump over his performative antics during the national anthem during his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers this…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    golf addictMore neutral: who often plays golf

    The label is a personal jab that has no bearing on what happened during the anthem.

    James, who has turned into something of a golf addict, was spotted taking some practice swings in his new 76ers gear as the rest of the…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    blastsMore neutral: criticizes

    “Blasts” presents a social media post as an angry attack rather than a statement.

    Trump blasts LeBron James as a 'total disgrace' over his national anthem antics during 76ers debut

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    HypocrisyMore neutral: Mid-Anthem Golf Swing Raises Questions About LeBron James

    Calls James a hypocrite in the headline before the article gives evidence for it.

    Mid-Anthem Golf Swing Begs The Question: O Say Can You See LeBron James’ Hypocrisy?

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    demands apologyMore neutral: calls for an apology

    The word demands presents the request for an apology as stronger than the post’s wording that James should apologize.

    Trump says NBA star LeBron James disrespected US anthem and demands apology

    Used byBBC News (Center)

  • Sensational language

    for all the wrong reasonsMore neutral: after a video of his movements during the anthem

    It declares Trump’s attention improper in the outlet’s own voice, which is opinion rather than reporting.

    LeBron James' debut with the 76ers caught Donald Trump's attention for all the wrong reasons.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    irked the PresidentMore neutral: criticized the president

    It attributes an emotional reaction to Trump that the post itself does not state.

    The NBA star irked the President by miming shooting movements and swinging his arms during the national anthem…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Eighth-Grade EducationMore neutral: LeBron James

    Mocks James’s education as an insult rather than reporting facts about the event.

    I give you LeBron “Eighth-Grade Education” James.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Ungrateful DivaMore neutral: LeBron James

    Labels James with insulting terms before any evidence is given for them.

    Ungrateful Diva LeBron James Disrespects the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    eviscerationMore neutral: response

    Describes Trump’s post as a brutal takedown, a judgement the article does not support with its own reporting.

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

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    the Who Cares and the I Don't KnowsMore neutral: the WNBA Finals teams

    Dismissive nicknames mock the teams before any argument about their conduct is made.

    Both teams in the WNBA Finals — the Who Cares and the I Don't Knows, as I referred to them recently — have now walked off the court for the…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Anthem DissMore neutral: latest criticism

    Describes Trump’s criticism as an insult to the anthem rather than as a statement of his view.

    Trump-LeBron Feud Heats Up After Latest Anthem Diss — 'A TOTAL DISGRACE'

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    brutally dismissive burnMore neutral: dismissive reply

    Adds intensity to a short dismissive reply.

    NBA star LeBron James has delivered a brutally dismissive burn to Donald Trump.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    TauntsMore neutral: responds to

    Describes James’s reply as mocking provocation rather than a response.

    LeBron James Taunts Trump Over National Anthem Meltdown

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    MeltdownMore neutral: criticism

    Characterizes Trump’s reaction as a loss of control without evidence of it.

    LeBron James Taunts Trump Over National Anthem Meltdown

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    fires backMore neutral: responded or replied

    Combat framing for a reply.

    LeBron James fires back at Donald Trump over condemnation of national anthem antics

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (4)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    total disgraceMore neutral: criticized James

    The phrase is a personal insult from Trump, and the headline gives it prominence as a judgement on James.

    Trump blasts LeBron James as a 'total disgrace' over his national anthem antics during 76ers debut

    Quoted byFox News (Far Right)The Daily Beast (Far Left)HuffPost (Far Left)Breitbart News (Far Right)and 1 more

    These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    disgraceMore neutral: criticized

    The word is Trump’s verdict on James, reported in the headline.

    Trump criticizes LeBron James as 'disgrace' over national anthem

    Quoted byThe Hill (Center)

    These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    disgracedMore neutral: former or who resigned after

    Verdict as adjective; say what happened.

    …James being labelled a disgrace by US President Donald Trump, who says NBA star disgraced anthem?

    Quoted byAl Jazeera English (Left)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    A TOTAL DISGRACEMore neutral: criticism

    A harsh personal insult quoted from Trump, given prominence in the headline.

    Trump-LeBron Feud Heats Up After Latest Anthem Diss — 'A TOTAL DISGRACE'

    Quoted byRedState (Far Right)

    These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump’s ‘TOTAL DISGRACE’ insult
  • James’s dismissive response
  • Trump’s apology demand
See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump’s Truth Social post
  • Demand for an apology
  • Video of arm and golf-swing movements
See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Trump says NBA star LeBron James disrespected US anthem and Loaded verb“demands apology”The word demands presents the request for an apology as stronger than the post’s wording that James should apologize.More neutral: calls for an apologyDisagree with this highlight?

    The basketball star recently appeared to be practising a golf swing and basketball shots while the national anthem was performed.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Trump criticizes LeBron James as 'Loaded modifier“disgrace”The word is Trump’s verdict on James, reported in the headline.More neutral: criticizedThese are Donald Trump’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?' over national anthem

    President Trump attacked NBA superstar LeBron James for not standing still during the National Anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers season opener at Madison Square Garden this week. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

5 outlets · 4 opinion

Leads with

  • Trump’s ‘total disgrace’ quote
  • Apology owed to fallen service members
  • James’s practice movements during the anthem

Leaves out

  • James’s dismissive reply to Trump

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 9 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    The Independent, Oct 22, 12:48 PM EDT

  • Center

    19 min later

    Its first report, Oct 22, 1:07 PM EDT

  • Right

    51 min later

    Its first report, Oct 22, 1:39 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The IndependentLeftOct 22, 12:48 PM EDT
  2. The HillCenterOct 22, 1:07 PM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFar RightOct 22, 1:39 PM EDT
  4. The Washington TimesRightOct 22, 1:39 PM EDT
  5. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 22, 2:05 PM EDT
  6. BBC NewsCenterOct 22, 3:27 PM EDT
  7. New York PostRightOct 22, 3:34 PM EDT
  8. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 22, 4:36 PM EDT
  9. HuffPostFar LeftOct 22, 5:37 PM EDT
  10. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 22, 9:35 PM EDT
  11. The GuardianLeftOct 23, 12:29 AM EDT
  12. ABC NewsLeftOct 23, 6:11 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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