Donald Trump received a not-so-warm reception at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals. When the president appeared in front of his hometown crowd, he was met with boos from thousands of basketball fans.
As Broadway star Avery Wilson sang the national anthem, the camera cut to a shot of President Trump saluting the flag, prompting boos from MSG. Feint applause in support of the president could be heard on the ABC broadcast, but it was overwhelmed by the cheers from the Bronx.
The New York Knicks, led by star point guard Jalen Brunson, extended their lead to 3-0 against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, effectively ending the Championship Series (no team has ever come from behind to win 3-0 in NBA Finals history).
In Game 1, the Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95. The second game was a close one with the score tied at 104 with 10 seconds left. After a crucial turnover and foul by Spurs superstar center Victor Wembaneyama, Brunson made it to the final line, pushing the Knicks to a one-point lead. The Spurs were unable to score against their opponent and lost the series 0-2.
This is not the first time President Trump has appeared at a major sporting event only to be met with a chorus of boos. The president could be heard booing from the audience on the ABC television broadcast as he returned to his hometown of Queens, New York, for the U.S. Open men’s final in late 2025. The Associated Press reported at the time that Trump “smirked” at the crowd’s reaction, which “temporarily caused louder boos.”
