US President Donald Trump was met with loud boos from basketball fans on Monday as he became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game. Trump was present for Game 3 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
Attending as a guest of Knicks president James Dolan, Trump watched the game from a luxury suite. When he appeared on the arena’s giant screen during the national anthem, many spectators responded with jeers and boos.
Speaking to reporters before departing from New York’s JFK Airport, Trump dismissed the reaction, saying: “I thought it was amazing, actually. You mean, when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good.”
The moment added another chapter to Trump’s often tense relationship with New York City, where heightened security measures surrounding his visit created long queues and disruptions around the arena.
With the Knicks leading the best-of-seven NBA Finals series 2-0 against San Antonio, the franchise’s first home Finals game in 27 years generated enormous excitement. Tickets sold for thousands of dollars as fans packed the arena for the historic occasion.
However, extensive security arrangements caused delays for many attendees. Large sections of the area surrounding Madison Square Garden were fenced off, complicating access for fans, commuters and tourists.
Among those frustrated by Trump’s presence was Brooklyn resident and fitness company owner Errol Ismail, who said: “I wish he wasn’t here. He’s not a real fan, and he’s just making things awful. We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.”
The presidential visit came as Trump’s public approval ratings remained near the lowest levels of his political career. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 35 per cent of respondents approved of his performance.
On the court, the Spurs secured a 115-111 victory over the Knicks, reducing New York’s series advantage to 2-1.
Celebrities and politicians attend
Among the notable attendees was New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who told reporters he had purchased his ticket directly from Madison Square Garden for nearly $1,000. Although Mamdani and Trump frequently disagree on policy issues, their personal interactions have remained cordial.
The game also attracted several high-profile figures, including filmmaker Spike Lee, former baseball star Derek Jeter and actor-comedian Ben Stiller, all of whom were seated along the arena’s famed “Celebrity Row”.
Trump, a native of Queens, has long had a complicated relationship with his hometown. He previously criticised the NBA for its support of social justice activism, accusing the league of becoming a political organisation during player-led protests against racial injustice in 2020 associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
His attendance at major sporting events has drawn mixed reactions in the past. During last year’s men’s final at the US Open in Queens, he was greeted with both cheers and boos, while enhanced security measures caused delays for spectators entering the venue.
Security for Monday’s game was intensified throughout the weekend. As a result, the traditional outdoor watch party usually organised for fans during playoff games was cancelled due to safety concerns, according to police.
While some attendees welcomed Trump’s presence as a fellow Knicks supporter, others preferred to focus solely on basketball.
Among them was Ben Wizner of the American Civil Liberties Union, who remarked: “I was at the Garden in 1999 to watch the Knicks lose to the Spurs in Game 5. I’m not gonna let the president get in the way of my ecstasy tonight.”
