US President Donald Trump faced mixed reactions from fans during Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. When the head of the White House was shown on the stadium screens, some of the spectators began to boo him.
Trump became the first sitting head of state to attend the NBA Finals. Before the start of the game, the US anthem was traditionally played, the President smiled and saluted the flag. But when the cameras were pointed at the head of state’s box, some fans began to react disapprovingly.
Boos raining down on Madison Square Garden as soon as Trump was on the big screen 😂 pic.twitter.com/1OX94OKvpM
— Surfer Dude 🏄♂️ (@dudeonthebay) June 9, 2026
Fan zone spectators had a similar reaction, although this may have been due to its relocation from the stadium (Madison Square Garden – the Knicks' home arena) to Bryant Park due to security measures in connection with the president's visit. RTVI.US reported this in detail.
🚨🚨🚨Trump brutally booed at Madison Square Garden! I love New York #knicksin4 #fktrump Bryant Park viewing party because all of midtown is shut down because of this loser whose name is in the Epstein files a MILLION times! pic.twitter.com/0AD1IJ5NEH
— Sandi Bachom 📹 (@sandibachom) June 9, 2026
At the same time, as Newsweek notes, the president’s supporters were also present at the game – seeing Trump on the screens, they chanted “USA! USA!” Fox News also emphasizes the ambiguity of fans' sentiments.
🚨 WOW! Madison Square Garden ERUPTS in “USA! USA! USA! chants with President Trump in attendance
The arena is still FILLED WITH PATRIOTS even though leftists booed him 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6DfD3kbcXk
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 9, 2026
The president himself, speaking to reporters after the game, said that the audience greeted him with applause. He also noted the episode during the anthem, when the cameras showed the presidential box and the reaction of the stands was especially clearly audible.
“It was definitely amazing. I think it was mostly applause. It was loud. And it was very enthusiastic,” Trump emphasized.
Being a native of New York, Trump attended Knicks matches for many years, The Washington Post (WP) clarifies. He was first noticed in the early 1990s while sitting in the stands. Trump also attended the 1994 NBA Finals and several games in the 2000s and 2010s, most recently in 2014.
The White House boss made it to the box – the only one in the arena surrounded by protective glass – in time for kickoff on Monday. Sitting nearby were New York Knicks owner James Dolan, who invited him to the game, the president's granddaughter Kai Trump, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The game was also attended by Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other officials, ABC News notes.
The mayor of the Big Apple, Zohran Mamdani, also came to the match – wearing a striped shirt in the colors of the Knicks, writes the New York Times (NYT). He watched the game from a podium further away from the presidential stand, along with a group of New York State representatives.
According to Mamdani, he paid about $1,000 for a ticket to the game. By the way, the cheapest seats on the upper tier cost more than $6,000, the Associated Press (AP) emphasizes.
Due to heightened security measures at the arena, some fans had to wait more than an hour to enter. Entire blocks around the arena were closed to pedestrians, the NYT notes. In particular, the New York Police announced a traffic closure in the area from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
In an interview with the NYT, Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox said during the team's morning practice that the president's presence “just makes everyone else uncomfortable.” At the same time, the team's head coach Mitch Johnson noted that there was no inconvenience for him. Knicks head coach Mike Brown responded similarly, emphasizing that he was focused on the final games.
As a result, the New York Knicks lost with a score of 115:111 and broke their winning streak. However, they currently lead the series 2-1. The next game against the San Antonio Spurs is Wednesday, June 10th. But Trump will not come to this game.
