With calls of American “resilience and unity” ahead of the country’s 250th birthday and chants of “USA, USA” from the the crowd of nearly 20,000 in a packed Madison Square Garden for Monday’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, President Donald Trump learned how Knicks fans really felt about him.
The erstwhile New York resident was loudly and vigorously booed by the hometown crowd as he was shown on the jumbotron of the legendary arena. Jeered with the same passion that greeted championship rivals the San Antonio Spurs, Trump was seen on the MSG saluting during the singing of the national anthem.
ABC may be under early license renewal reviews by MAGA loyalist Brendan Carr and the FCC in a clear case of political intimidation, but Josh D’Amaro-led parent company Disney made sure to have its network and ESPN cameras on Trump when the boos began.
Fox Sports journalist Rachel Nichols characterized the noise as “louder than the boos for the Spurs, louder than any boos I’ve heard in this building in a while.”
The anti-Trump cries soon turned to bellowing cheers when those same cameras quickly cut to Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson courtside.
The response Trump received inside the Garden was on par in relative terms with the foul-mouth taunts he endured as his motorcade made its way past Knicks fans Monday in Manhattan.
Never very popular in NYC, POTUS did himself no favors, as security concerns around his attendance led to the annual watch party outside MSG being canceled tonight. The fact that Trump’s ICE czar Tom Homan on Monday also promised “you’re going to see more ICE than you’ve ever seen in New York City” probably didn’t win MAGA any fans in immigrant-rich Gotham.
Along with one of his granddaughters and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump was seated tonight in a suite with Knicks (and AMC) owner James Dolan, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, attorney Boris Epshteyn and ex-MTV unscripted star and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
(L-R) Ex-New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin & director Spike Lee at 226 NBA Finals Game 3
Courtside, tonight’s game saw die-hard Knicks fans Spike Lee (in a Pope Leo NYKnicks jersey), Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Jay-Z, Larry David, Law & Order icons Mariska Hargitay Christopher Meloni, plus Timothée Chalamet, who was wearing an orange jumpsuit. Also in attendance are ex-Knicks superstar Jeremy Lin, Dave Chappelle, baseball legend Derek Jeter, Tina Fey, Fat Joe, DJ Khalid, Sopranos and White Lotus alum Michael Imperioli, John McEnroe, Josh Safdie, Greta Gerwig, Jon Stewart, Pete Davidson and Cardi B, who will be performing during halftime.
Having purchased a $1,000 ticket (one of the cheaper ones available) for himself, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was also in the Knicks’ house.
In the NBA Finals for the first time since Bill Clinton was president, the Knicks lead the Spurs 2-0 going into tonight’s Game 3.
Ted Johnson contributed to this report.
