Trump Draws Boos and Security Delays at Madison Square Garden During Knicks NBA Finals Game

Donald Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden on Sunday drew loud boos from Knicks fans, added hours of security delays for thousands of spectators, and became a political sideshow around New York’s first NBA Finals game in decades. The president attended Game 3 as the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak came to an end, and by the time the night was over, his presence had become one of the game’s biggest talking points.

According to reporting from The Independent and Fast Company, fans entering the arena faced extensive screening and logistical bottlenecks as security tightened for a sitting president at one of the city’s most high-profile sporting events. Fast Company described the buildup as an “anxiety” point for fans hoping to enjoy what should have been a celebratory home-game atmosphere, while The Independent reported that the disruption turned the night into a broader source of frustration and debate.

Trump was booed during the national anthem, with video and live coverage showing the crowd reacting negatively as he watched from his seat. One clip highlighted by The Weeknight showed the boos continuing while the anthem was performed, underscoring the extent to which the president’s presence dominated the building before the game even settled into play.

The night also brought an unusual mix of sports and celebrity attention. According to The Independent, rapper Cardi B delivered a surprise halftime performance, while courtside and celebrity seating included figures such as Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet. That star-heavy backdrop only sharpened the contrast between the basketball moment fans expected and the political spectacle the arena instead delivered.

The Independent also reported that Trump appeared to doze off during parts of the game, adding another layer to the criticism from opponents who questioned why he was there at all. One critic called it the “most expensive taxpayer funded nap” in history, reflecting the backlash over both the optics and the costs of a presidential visit to a packed sports arena.

The controversy was intensified by skepticism over Trump’s identity as a Knicks supporter. In a separate Independent column, Andrew Feinberg argued that history does not place Trump among the city’s most recognizable Knicks fans, suggesting the visit was less about loyalty to the team than about visibility. For a New York fan base still waiting to celebrate a Finals run at home, the result was a night that mixed basketball, politics, celebrity culture and security headaches in equal measure.