3 min readJun 9, 2026 12:52 PM IST
First published on: Jun 9, 2026 at 10:51 AM IST
US President Donald Trump was loudly booed at Madison Square Garden in New York when he appeared on the arena’s video screens during the national anthem before the NBA Finals.
Fans initially chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as the rendition of the national anthem by Avery Wilson was played. The mood immediately shifted when Trump appeared on the arena’s jumbo screens, prompting loud boos from the crowd.
The jeers subsided when the US flag was displayed, and fans cheered when the New York Knicks appeared on screen.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for his return to Washington, Trump said he believed the reception was largely positive.
“It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he said. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.”
Trump watched Game 3 of the NBA Finals from Knicks owner James Dolan’s suite, along with granddaughter Kai, personal adviser Boris Epshteyn and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum.
The US president sat alongside Dolan during the first quarter before spending part of the second quarter talking to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman.
Trump’s attendance marked the first time a sitting US president attended an NBA Finals game.
‘Trump must go‘
The US president travelled aboard his Marine One, which flew from his home in New Jersey and landed near Wall Street before Trump’s motorcade proceeded through Manhattan to Madison Square Garden approximately an hour before tipoff.
Along the route, he encountered a handful of people making rude gestures, while a group of demonstrators outside the arena displayed signs reading “Trump must go”. Shortly afterwards, he settled into Dolan’s suite.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, the security was significantly heightened, with the New York Police Department and the United States Secret Service establishing a large security perimeter around the arena throughout the afternoon.
The fans were required to present tickets or credentials at multiple checkpoints before entering the secured zone. They also underwent screening through Transportation Security Administration-style magnetometers, while Secret Service personnel and police were positioned throughout the area in large numbers.
President Donald Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (Photo/AP) 
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