US President Donald Trump was greeted with loud boos from basketball fans on Monday as he became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game.
Trump attended Game 3 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs as a guest of Knicks president James Dolan.
Standing in a luxury suite at Madison Square Garden, Trump smiled as sections of the sell-out crowd jeered when his image appeared on the arena’s giant screen during the national anthem.
“I thought it was amazing, actually,” Trump told reporters before departing New York from JFK Airport.
“You mean, when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good.”
The reaction added to Trump’s long and often complicated relationship with New York City, where he built his business career before entering politics.
The Knicks entered the game with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Spurs, making their first NBA Finals home game in 27 years one of the most sought-after tickets in the city.
Security was significantly tightened for the presidential visit, creating delays for fans entering the arena. Black metal fencing surrounded parts of the venue and pedestrian movement was restricted around Midtown Manhattan.
“I wish he wasn’t here. He’s not a real fan, and he’s just making things awful,” said Brooklyn resident and fitness company owner Errol Ismail.
“We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.”
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s approval rating remained near the lowest levels of his political career, with 35% of respondents approving of his performance.
On the court, the Spurs defeated the Knicks 115-111 to reduce New York’s series lead to 2-1.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he bought his ticket directly from Madison Square Garden for nearly $1,000. Although Mamdani and Trump have publicly criticised each other’s policies, he said their meetings had remained cordial.
The game also attracted several high-profile celebrities, including filmmaker Spike Lee, former baseball star Derek Jeter and actor-comedian Ben Stiller.
Trump has previously criticised the NBA over player protests against racial injustice during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, accusing the league of becoming a “political organization.”
Several fans welcomed his presence at the game, while others said they were focused on basketball rather than politics.
“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 of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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