Trump greeted with boos at NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden

Basketball fans greeted U.S. President Donald Trump with loud boos on Monday as the Republican became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, taking in Game 3 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Trump attended as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan and watched from a luxury suite at Madison Square Garden, the self-styled “World’s Most Famous Arena.” He appeared on the Jumbotron during the national anthem and was met with a mix of cheers and jeers from the sold-out crowd, including prominent booing.

The moment marked the latest chapter in Trump’s complicated relationship with New York City, where heightened security measures surrounded his visit. Fans faced long delays and tight security screening, with barricades and restricted pedestrian access set up around Midtown Manhattan leading to the arena.

With the Knicks holding a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, Game 3 marked the team’s first NBA Finals home game in 27 years and became one of the most in-demand tickets in the city. Prices surged into the thousands as fans packed Madison Square Garden for the high-profile matchup.

However, the increased security presence slowed entry into the venue. Attendees navigated extensive checkpoints and black metal fencing, while traffic around the arena was heavily restricted.

“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 fitness company owner who tried multiple entrances to enter the arena. “We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.”

CELEBRITIES IN ATTENDANCE

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he purchased his ticket directly from Madison Square Garden for nearly $1,000. Mamdani and Trump have previously clashed on policy issues, though their public interactions have remained cordial.

The game also drew its usual lineup of celebrity fans to “Celebrity Row,” including filmmaker Spike Lee, former Yankees star Derek Jeter, and actor Ben Stiller.

Trump, who was born in Queens, has long had a contentious relationship with the heavily Democratic city he once called home. He has also been a vocal critic of the NBA, previously accusing the league of becoming a “political organization” during player protests tied to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

He also drew mixed reactions when he attended the U.S. Open men’s final in Queens last year, where heightened security caused delays and confusion at entry points.

Security concerns ahead of Monday’s game led to additional restrictions, including the cancellation of a traditional outdoor playoff watch party outside the arena, according to the New York Police Department.

Some attendees said they supported the president’s presence as a fellow Knicks fan but declined to be identified. Others said they were choosing to focus solely on the game.

“I was at the Garden in 1999 to watch the Knicks lose to the Spurs in Game 5. I’m not going to let the president get in the way of my enjoyment tonight,” said Ben Wizner, deputy legal director at the ACLU, which has filed multiple lawsuits against Trump administration policies. -Reporting by Amy Tennery and Bo Erickson in New York, additional reporting by Nathan Howard; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Cynthia Osterman and Jamie Freed/Reuters