Bill Russell Calls Trump a "Coward" For Stance On Anthem Debatebr br Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell took aim at President Trump for his unwavering stance that kneeling during the national anthem is disrespectful to the "great American flag." Russell tweeted a photo of him kneeling with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to him by Barack Obama in 2010 for his activism and advocacy for equality.br br br Russell, the five-time league MVP who helped the Celtics to 11 NBA Championships, called Trump a "coward.