Trump booed in New York as he becomes first US president to attend NBA Finals
Crowd reaction follows heightened security and lengthy entry delays at Madison Square Garden
New York (Finale Monitoring) President Donald Trump was booed by sections of the crowd at Madison Square Garden on Monday night as he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game.
The reaction came after thousands of fans experienced lengthy delays entering the arena due to extensive security measures surrounding the president’s visit. Lines reportedly stretched for more than two city blocks as spectators waited to pass through additional screening checkpoints.
Boos erupted when Trump appeared on the arena’s giant video screens during the national anthem. The president was shown saluting as the anthem was performed, prompting a mixed response from the crowd that included both cheers and jeers.
Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks entered the contest holding a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
The president was accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump, Knicks owner James Dolan, and several senior administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and numerous celebrities were also in attendance for the highly anticipated matchup.
Trump’s appearance attracted significant attention given his long and often contentious relationship with New York City, a predominantly Democratic stronghold despite being the city where he was born and built his business career.
The crowd’s reaction quickly became a major talking point online, overshadowing pregame discussions and highlighting the political divisions that continue to surround the president.
