Trump draws much different reaction at NBA Finals than he did at CFP national title game

President Donald Trump received a monolithic absorption from a sold-out assemblage astatine Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals betwixt the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs connected Monday night.

As the nationalist anthem was being sung, Trump was shown connected the MSG large surface supra the court, and a mixed absorption from the assemblage ensued.

While determination was immoderate cheering, arsenic Trump saluted the assemblage from his suite, the boos from those successful attendance rang louder earlier the video panned backmost to NYPD officers holding flags connected the court.

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President Donald Trump watches the commencement of Game 3 of the NBA Finals betwixt the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected June 8, 2026. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Trump was accompanied by his granddaughter, Kai Trump, who was connected his close with her manus implicit her heart. Knicks proprietor James Dolan was besides successful the suite with Trump connected his near erstwhile helium was shown.

This reception by fans successful New York City was overmuch antithetic from different cardinal sporting lawsuit this twelvemonth – the College Football National Championship.

College shot fans ate up the infinitesimal that Trump was connected the Jumbotron astatine Hard Rock Stadium. Similarly, Trump was shown during the nationalist anthem earlier the game. As helium was surrounded by his grandchildren, Trump waved to the crowd, who went raucous with cheers.

SECRET SERVICE, TSA AND NYPD TRANSFORM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN INTO FORTRESS FOR TRUMP'S NBA FINALS VISIT

New York fans intelligibly didn’t stock the aforesaid sentiment arsenic those from Florida.

Trump’s accomplishment successful New York progressive enhanced information passim the city. A information obstruction went up astir MSG, Secret Service and much instrumentality enforcement officials performed their duties to the highest standard, which meant longer lines and hold times to get into the arena.

President Donald Trump watches earlier Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals betwixt the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

NYPD besides announced vehicles and pedestrian postulation were closed from West 30th Street to West 35th Street betwixt Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue astatine 4 p.m.

And ticker parties successful the country were canceled, with NYPD claiming it was due to the fact that of information for Trump’s visit.  

"The NYPD successful coordination with the Secret Service made the determination for Game 3, wherever we person a statesmanlike visit, that we could not enactment ticker parties close extracurricular of the Garden," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a quality conference. "We are looking guardant to bringing backmost ticker parties for Game 4. But I deliberation New Yorkers are utilized to presidents coming to town, and they recognize that that mostly means lockdowns of areas and that's what you're going to spot contiguous astatine the Garden."

President Donald Trump watches the archetypal 4th of Game Three betwixt the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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MSG pushed backmost connected NYPD’s stance, saying the licence was denied by section metropolis officials alternatively than Trump’s presence.

Trump has attended galore sporting events since opening his 2nd term, including the Super Bowl successful New Orleans 2 seasons ago, the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.

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