Trump "Thunderously" Booed at NBA Finals Game 3 in Madison Square Garden — Claims It Was "Mostly Cheers"

Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game — and was thunderously booed when shown on the Madison Square Garden jumbotron during the national anthem. White House pool reporters called it "indisputably" loud booing. Trump told reporters afterward: "It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic." His presence caused 4+ hour security lines, forced the cancellation of fan watch parties outside MSG, and required a 10-foot fence, counter-drone technology, and a bulletproof glass suite. Fans made rude gestures at his motorcade. Ticket prices exceeded $5,000. The Knicks lost 115-111, snapping a 13-game playoff win streak. Schumer: "Trump should LEAVE US ALONE! He's not wanted here." Trump sat with James Dolan, Jared Kushner, Boris Epshteyn, and four Cabinet secretaries. Howard Lutnick — who testified about Epstein ten days earlier — sat courtside.

On June 8, 2026, President Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden — the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. New York gave him exactly the reception he deserved.

The booing

Broadway star Avery Wilson sang the national anthem. Chants of "U-S-A!" filled the arena — then the jumbotron cut to Trump, saluting the flag from James Dolan's executive suite.

The arena erupted in boos.

White House pool reporters described the reception as "thunderous." CBS Senior White House Correspondent Ed O'Keefe reported that Trump was "indisputably booed loudly." The Athletic reported he "drew louder boos than the rivals, the Spurs." Multiple reporters confirmed the sustained booing was audible on the ABC broadcast — some faint applause was drowned out entirely.

The jeers stopped only when the screen cut to the American flag. The cheers returned when Jalen Brunson and the Knicks players appeared on screen.

"Mostly cheers"

Trump was asked afterward what he thought of the reception. His answer:

"I thought great. I mean, I thought it was amazing, actually. It was certainly amazing. It was mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic."

Every reporter in the building disagreed. This is the man whose approval rating is 34%.

The disruption

Trump's decision to attend turned a basketball game into a security operation:

Fans lined up 4+ hours early to clear TSA-style magnetometers and multiple checkpoints
A 10-foot fence was erected around parts of MSG
The Secret Service deployed counter-drone technology
A bulletproof glass box was constructed for Trump's suite
People without tickets were barred from coming within several blocks
Bags were banned inside the arena
The popular outdoor watch parties near MSG were canceled and relocated to Bryant Park, outside the security perimeter
Ticket prices exceeded $5,000 for entry-level seats — NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani paid nearly $1,000 for standing room

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch: "We are looking forward to bringing back watch parties for Game 4."

A confused fan, Greg Weldon, described the chaos: "We've asked so many cops, Secret Service, guys with machine guns, what to do, where should we go. Nobody knows."

The motorcade

Marine One flew from New Jersey, landing near Wall Street. The presidential motorcade traveled up through Manhattan. Along the route:

Fans made rude gestures at the motorcade
At least two people raised middle fingers at the vehicles
Protesters held signs reading "Trump must go"

Who was in the suite

Trump watched from Dolan's suite with:

Granddaughter Kai Trump
Son-in-law Jared Kushner
Personal adviser Boris Epshteyn
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
Deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino
Valet Walt Nauta — the co-defendant in his classified documents case

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — who testified before the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein just weeks earlier — sat courtside.

Also in the building: Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

The political reaction

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

"During one of the best moments NYC has enjoyed in decades, he makes it all about himself. Trump should LEAVE US ALONE! He's not wanted here."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took a neutral stance, calling Trump "welcome" and noting sports should be "something that we have in common."

The game

The Spurs won 115-111, snapping the Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak — the second-longest unbeaten playoff run in NBA history. The Knicks still led the series 2-1. It was New York's first Finals appearance since 1999, when they also played the Spurs.

Guard Jose Alvarado on the disruption: "We improvise. We're New Yorkers. We're going to find a way to watch a game."

Center Mitchell Robinson on Trump attending: "Cool, I guess."

The pattern

Trump has been booed at the 2019 World Series in Washington, at the 2025 U.S. Open in Queens — his childhood borough — where he offered a smirk that made the boos louder, and now at the 2026 NBA Finals in Manhattan. He is a native New Yorker who received fewer than 839,000 votes in New York City in 2024, compared to 1.9 million for Kamala Harris.

He disrupted a basketball game that thousands of fans had waited decades to see in New York. He forced the cancellation of watch parties. He required a 10-foot fence and a bulletproof box. He caused four-hour security lines. Fans who paid $5,000 for seats were told they couldn't bring bags. And when 19,000 people booed him to his face, he said it was mostly cheers.