Trump Faces Booing at NBA Finals in New York
Donald Trump was booed during a basketball game in New York as he became the first sitting US president to attend the NBA Finals.
The boos followed frustrated ticket holders who waited for hours in queues extending more than two blocks outside Madison Square Garden on Monday. The lengthy lines were due to intense security measures implemented because of the president's presence.
The New York Knicks were defeated 111-115 by the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven NBA Finals, reducing the Knicks' series lead to 2-1.
After the game, Trump told reporters:
"It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic."
Booing erupted Monday evening when a camera displayed Trump on large screens inside the arena, saluting as a singer performed the national anthem.
The president attended the game accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan, along with members of his administration including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump, a native of Queens, New York City, has had a challenging relationship with his predominantly Democratic hometown.
Earlier in the day, Trump had been at his New Jersey golf club before flying to downtown Manhattan aboard Marine One helicopter. He then proceeded to Madison Square Garden by motorcade.
Trump's arrival led to street closures around Madison Square Garden, restricting both foot and vehicle traffic. Thousands of New York Police Department officers and hundreds of Secret Service agents were deployed.
Metal barriers were installed at every block, creating an airport-style security checkpoint that sports fans had to navigate.
For local bars showing the finals, this night would typically be highly profitable. However, the barriers hindered foot traffic, leaving many pubs empty.
Disgruntled Knicks fans and regular commuters found it difficult to navigate the celebrations.
One New Yorker told the BBC that the heightened security was "killing the vibe of the Knicks."
This season marked a remarkable turnaround for the Knicks, who reached their first Finals since 1999 after years of poor performance.
Celebrities including Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet occupied courtside seats.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was also present.
Manhattan was crowded with Knicks fans dressed in orange and blue, many watching the game in the streets and at watch parties.
The streets near Bryant Park were filled with fans attending a community watch party after one outside Madison Square Garden was cancelled due to Trump's attendance.
People ran up and down the streets near Bryant Park, celebrating and cheering whenever the Knicks scored. As the game began, some fans climbed scaffolding attached to buildings, while others crowded around a laptop in the busy streets to watch the game.
A 44-year-old fan who watched the game at Bryant Park recalled being 17 the last time the Knicks reached the Finals, also playing the San Antonio Spurs. He described the disruption caused by Trump's visit as "very annoying."
However, not all reactions were negative.
Knicks fan Anthony Pulley, 43, told AFP news agency that although the disruption was bothersome, he appreciated Trump's attendance.
"I think it really put a damper on all the watch parties," he said. "But it's pretty cool he wants to show up and be a part of it."
From the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center, skyscrapers were illuminated in orange and blue, the Knicks' team colors.
On the previous two game nights, large groups of Knicks supporters took over streets near the arena, even though the team played at their opponents' arena in Texas. These gatherings led to dozens of arrests as fans climbed lampposts, jumped onto food carts, and blocked traffic.
Many fans could not afford tickets to the first home game of the series, with the cheapest online resale tickets exceeding $10,000 (£7,500) and some reaching over $100,000.
Regular Knicks games are already among the most expensive in the NBA.
When asked about the high prices on Friday, Trump said:
"That's the way life goes. It's sort of semi-free to watch it on television."
Mayor Mamdani told reporters he paid nearly $1,000 for his ticket to the game.
