President Trump used a Thursday rally in Sioux City, Iowa, to call for an American boycott of the WNBA over teams leaving the court during the national anthem. He argued that viewers should withhold their support until teams stand and recognize the anthem, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

His warning to the league was blunt. “You should do the same thing with women’s basketball, unless they get there,” he said while comparing the controversy with previous protests involving NFL players.

The call followed Wednesday’s WNBA Finals game between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries. Both teams ran off the court during the national anthem for the third consecutive game of the championship series.

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According to Fox News, the WNBA’s own rulebook requires players to stand and line up on the court while the anthem is performed. The reported requirement put the conduct of both teams squarely at the center of the controversy.

Neither the NBA nor the WNBA responded to multiple inquiries about the rule violation involving the two teams, according to Fox News. The lack of a response left the league’s reported requirement and the players’ actions without a public explanation from either organization.

The practice has occurred since 2020, but it is receiving national attention this season amid a rise in WNBA viewership. Stars including Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham help bring more viewers to the league.

Trump raised the issue directly with the crowd during his Iowa appearance. “Hey, by the way, what’s going on with the women’s NBA? What’s that all about?” he asked.

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He then credited former University of Iowa Hawkeyes star and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark with helping the league’s ratings. Trump told the crowd, “You had a player here who was very good, who was very helpful to that,” prompting cheers from those attending the rally.

Trump argued that the league could damage its recent progress by allowing the anthem walkouts to continue. “You know they’ll destroy themselves before they get started because they’re just starting to do good,” he said.

He also pointed to the NFL and its previous anthem protests as a warning for the WNBA. Trump said the football league ultimately changed course when viewers reacted by turning away from its games.

“No, it’s a big deal going on. They leave the court when the national anthem’s playing. What’s that all about? You know, the NFL did that for a while, and they stopped because people stopped watching the games,” Trump continued.

Trump then repeated his demand for viewers to apply similar pressure to women’s basketball. “So, I think you should do the same thing with women’s basketball, unless they get there.”

The president also criticized LeBron James over his behavior during the national anthem earlier in the week. James was seen moving his arms during the anthem in motions resembling a golf swing and then a free throw shot.

“And what about LeBron James? Did you see that deal? He’s doing, during the national anthem, he’s practicing his golf swing,” Trump said, bringing another prominent basketball figure into his criticism of anthem conduct.

Trump responded to the James footage with disbelief and called the episode a major controversy. “I said, ‘What the hell is that?’ No, it’s a big scandal kind of a story. What’s it all about? I don’t understand it.”

His remarks tied the WNBA walkouts, the league’s improving ratings and the NFL’s previous anthem controversy into one forceful boycott appeal. At the same time, he singled out Clark as an important contributor to the WNBA’s recent ratings success while warning that the league could undermine its own momentum.

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