Trump booed in New York as he becomes first US president to attend NBA Finals
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- Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game, watching Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday, but booing broke out when cameras showed him saluting during the national anthem; he told reporters afterward: 'It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.'
- The New York Knicks lost 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3, cutting their best-of-seven series lead to 2-1; the Knicks are in their first Finals since 1999, when they also faced the Spurs.
- Trump's visit triggered a massive security operation — thousands of NYPD officers and hundreds of Secret Service officers deployed, surrounding streets shut to foot and vehicle traffic, and metal barriers creating an airport-style gauntlet that one fan said was 'killing the vibe of the Knicks.'
- The security perimeter disrupted local businesses and watch parties, leaving many bars near MSG empty and forcing fans to gather at a Bryant Park community watch party after the outdoor party near the arena was cancelled due to Trump's appearance; Manhattan skyscrapers were lit orange and blue.
- Trump attended with granddaughter Kai Trump, Knicks owner James Dolan, and administration officials including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, arriving via Marine One from his New Jersey golf club.
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended, telling reporters he paid nearly $1,000 for his ticket; the cheapest online resale tickets exceeded $10,000 and went up to more than $100,000, prompting Trump to say on Friday: 'That's the way life goes. It's sort of semi-free to watch it on television.'
Why it matters: The visit made presidential history but exposed friction between Trump's White House and his heavily Democratic hometown, with thousands of officers deployed and local commerce disrupted around a venue charging $100,000-plus per ticket. The booing, which Trump dismissed as 'mostly cheers,' underscored how a presidential appearance can transform a sporting celebration into a political flashpoint in a city where his approval has long lagged.