Topline
President Donald Trump was greeted with heavy booing at Madison Square Garden on Monday night as he attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
President Donald Trump gestures during the National Anthem as he attends an NBA Finals playoff basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Key Facts
The booing occurred when Trump was shown saluting on the big screen as the national anthem was being performed before the game.
Trump, who was invited to the game by Knicks owner James Dolan, was seated in the owner’s box over the court and he was joined in the box by interior secretary Doug Burgum, transportation secretary Sean Duffy and his granddaughter Kai Trump.
The president was shown on screen for several seconds and he appeared to have a smirk on his face despite the booing.
The president was also booed by a large crowd who had gathered for a free watch party at Bryant Park when he was shown on the broadcast.
Trump’s attendance at the game led to heavy security and restrictions around Midtown, with Penn Station being temporarily blocked off by police until the president arrived at the arena.
According to CNN, the arena appeared full before the start of the game as people had lined up for several hours before the official start time.
tangent
Videos shared by a fan in attendance appeared to show Trump with his eyes shut in the middle of the game, prompting some to call out the president for falling asleep at the game. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted: “WAKE TF UP.” Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., wrote on X: “He had watch parties shut down so he could go to the arena and sleep?”
what Happened in the game?
Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 as they were led by a dominant performance by their French superstar Victor Wembanyama, who scored 32 points. The Knicks were leading the game 64-57 at halftime after a strong second quarter, but they fell behind again in the 3rd quarter as Wembanyama stepped up. The Knicks still lead the series 2-1 and the next game will also be played at Madison Square Garden.
What did Trump Say After the game?
While speaking to reporters on the tarmac just before he boarded Air Force One to return to Washington, Trump was asked about being booed at the game. The president, however, claimed he was mostly cheered, saying: “I thought it was very good. It was certainly amazing. I think mostly cheers. It was loud. And it was very enthusiastic” When asked about the game itself, he said: “It has gotten rougher. Which is a good thing, not a bad thing…When you look at the way they guard people now, I don’t remember them doing that 10 years ago.” The president also described the NBA as a “little left wing” but added that it was “great entertainment.”
who else was in attendance at the Game?
Dozens of celebrities were in attendance for the Knicks game on Monday night including actor Timothée Chalamet, who also attended the first two games in San Antonio. Several actors and comedians were also in attendance including Tina Fey, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Larry David, Mariska Hargitay, Jon Stewart and Ben Stiller. Director and actor Spike Lee, who is one of the most prominent Knicks fans and a regular attendee of the team’s games was also present. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was also in attendance.
further reading
Prices Suddenly Drop 50% For Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals Game 3 In New York (Forbes)
