US President Donald Trump became the first sitting American president to attend an NBA Finals game on Monday, but his historic appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd as he watched Game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Trump, attending as a guest of Knicks president James Dolan, appeared on the arena's giant video screens during the national anthem and was greeted with a chorus of jeers from spectators inside the sold-out venue. Television footage showed the president standing in a luxury suite and giving a military salute as the crowd reacted.
The visit marked an unprecedented moment in NBA history, with no sitting US president having previously attended a Finals game. However, the historic occasion was overshadowed by the crowd's hostile reception and the extensive security measures that disrupted access to one of the biggest sporting events New York has hosted in decades.
Trump arrived shortly before tip-off and watched the game from a heavily secured suite alongside family members, cabinet officials and Knicks owner James Dolan. His presence prompted an extraordinary security operation involving the US Secret Service and the New York Police Department, with large sections around Madison Square Garden cordoned off and enhanced screening procedures imposed on fans, players and arena personnel.
The Knicks' first home NBA Finals game in 27 years had already become one of the hottest tickets in New York, with supporters paying thousands of dollars to witness the contest. But many fans complained that the president's attendance complicated entry into the arena and shifted attention away from the game itself.
"I wish he wasn't here. He's not a real fan, and he's just making things awful," said Errol Ismail, a Brooklyn resident and owner of a fitness company, who struggled to enter the venue amid heightened security.
"We've waited a lifetime for this, and he's made it about himself, like everything else."
The president's appearance highlighted his complicated relationship with New York City, where he built his business empire but has long faced political opposition. The city remains a Democratic stronghold, and Trump has frequently clashed with local leaders and criticised professional sports leagues over political activism.
His attendance also drew a mixed response outside the arena. While a small group of protesters gathered near Madison Square Garden carrying signs critical of the president, several attendees told Reuters they welcomed Trump as a fellow Knicks supporter. Others said they preferred to focus on basketball rather than politics.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly disagreed with Trump on several policy issues, was also present at the game after purchasing a ticket for nearly $1,000.
The high-profile matchup attracted a star-studded crowd on the arena's famed Celebrity Row, including filmmaker Spike Lee, baseball legend Derek Jeter, comedian Ben Stiller, actor Timothée Chalamet, actress Tina Fey and former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.
Trump has had a contentious history with the NBA. In 2020, he criticised the league for supporting players who protested racial injustice during the Black Lives Matter movement, accusing the NBA of becoming a "political organization."
The president previously attended the US Open men's tennis final in New York last year, where he also received a mixed reaction from spectators. That visit similarly led to heightened security measures that caused delays for fans entering the venue.
Monday's security operation was so extensive that the traditional Knicks playoff watch party held outside Madison Square Garden was cancelled, with police citing security concerns.
Despite the political backdrop and the attention surrounding Trump's appearance, the focus inside the arena eventually returned to basketball, with the Knicks entering Game 3 holding a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series against the Spurs.
“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,” said Ben Wizner, deputy legal director at the ACLU, which has filed multiple lawsuits challenging actions taken by the Trump administration.
Catch all LIVE updates on the US-Iran conflict here.
Follow Us On Social Media