It has now been revealed that Trump is not expected to attend game four of Knicks-Spurs in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden “due to scheduling conflicts and obligations”, sources told ESPN. Boos rang out across the arena on Monday night after Trump appeared on the big screens during the singing of the national anthem, while the president smirked and saluted. At times, the chorus of boos nearly drowned out Avery Wilson’s rendition of the national anthem.
Knicks supporters also heckled him and hurled expletives in his direction all evening.
“Put them gas prices down!” one supporter can be heard yelling before launching an expletive at Trump. “F— Trump, but we came here for the Knicks!” another can be heard crying out.
The gathering around them can be heard chanting, “F— Trump, go Knicks!”
After the game, Trump told reporters: “It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.”
Trump, a longtime Knicks fan, watched his team lose 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs, in game three of the best-of-seven NBA finals, trimming the Knicks’ advantage in the series to 2–1.
The president, who watched the majority of game three from a suite, attended with his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and special envoy Steve Witkoff from his administration were also in attendance.
New Yorkers were angry that his planned appearance at the game would mean hiked-up security. Spectators were prohibited from bringing bags into the arena, even those that met the arena’s usual permitted standards, ahead of the president’s anticipated arrival.
Footage circulating online showed supporters waiting upwards of an hour to gain entry, where they were subsequently met with heightened security measures from the Secret Service.
