President Donald Trump downplayed the boos he received at Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, calling the league “a little left-wing” but insisting the crowd reaction was largely positive. Speaking to reporters outside Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Trump addressed the mixed reception at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs.
A reporter asked whether the NBA had “turned away from left-wing stuff that they were getting criticized for.” Trump responded: “Well, it’s a little left-wing. Yeah, I think so. It tends to be a little left-wing, but it’s great entertainment. It’s great.” He added that he thought the crowd’s response was “amazing” and “mostly cheers.”
The president attended the game with his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan, sitting in a private box. During Broadway performer Avery Wilson’s rendition of the National Anthem, ABC cameras captured Trump, prompting a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd. The incident came after the Knicks canceled a planned watch party and the New York Police Department ramped up security in anticipation of his arrival.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) described the buildup as a “vibes-killer” on her Instagram story. “As a politician, I’ve gone to my fair amount of sports games,” she said. “There are just some things that you don’t want to go either to jinx it or just in general. Sometimes the accommodations that are required for the security just for you to show up are not worth shutting down for other people.”
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith also blasted Trump’s appearance on social platform X. “I have a problem when you show up, causes delays and interferes with these watch parties buzzing all over NYC,” Smith wrote. “It’s not political. It’s about the @nyknicks and the vibe this city has going. Take that b.s. take somewhere else. Not today. Not now!” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the disruption.
The game drew a star-studded crowd, including Ben Stiller, Larry David, DJ Khaled, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, and Timothée Chalamet. Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft were also in attendance. It marked the first time a sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game.
Trump’s visit comes amid ongoing political battles, including his push for a voter ID bill and tensions over intelligence leadership, with Jeffries blocking FISA renewal until Trump removes his intelligence chief. The president also faces scrutiny over Pulte’s search for 2020 fraud evidence and the ongoing Iran conflict, which has dragged past 100 days.
