How Crowds Reacted to Trump: NBA Finals vs. National College Football Championship
President Donald Trump made another high-profile appearance at a major sporting event Monday night, attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks hosted the San Antonio Spurs. As expected, his presence became one of the biggest talking points of the evening long before tipoff.
The most notable moment came during the national anthem.
As the anthem was being performed, Trump appeared on the arena's giant video board above the court. The crowd's reaction was immediate and unmistakably mixed. Some fans cheered and applauded as Trump acknowledged the audience from his suite. Others responded with loud boos that appeared to outweigh the cheers before the broadcast returned its focus to the court.
Trump briefly saluted the crowd while standing alongside several guests. Seated nearby were his granddaughter, Kai Trump, who held her hand over her heart during the anthem, and Knicks owner James Dolan.
The reaction stood in sharp contrast to what Trump experienced earlier this year at the College Football National Championship in Florida. During that appearance, fans erupted with applause when he appeared on the stadium video board. Surrounded by family members, Trump waved to the crowd and received a noticeably warmer reception.
Madison Square Garden proved to be a different environment.
The president's visit also brought significant security measures to Manhattan. Law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service and the New York Police Department, established an extensive security perimeter around the arena. Additional screening procedures and restricted access points led to longer lines for fans entering the building.
Road closures were implemented throughout the area surrounding Madison Square Garden, with portions of Midtown Manhattan shut down to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for several hours before the game.
The security preparations also sparked a dispute over planned fan events.
The NYPD announced that outdoor watch parties near the arena would not take place because of the security requirements associated with a presidential visit. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service.
"The NYPD in coordination with the Secret Service made the decision for Game 3, where we have a presidential visit, that we could not support watch parties right outside of the Garden," Tisch said during a news conference.
She added that officials expected the watch parties to return for Game 4 and noted that New Yorkers are generally accustomed to the disruptions that accompany presidential visits.
Madison Square Garden management, however, disputed that explanation. According to MSG, local city officials denied the permit for the watch parties and Trump's presence was not the reason for the cancellation.
The debate over security and logistics ultimately became secondary to the atmosphere inside the arena, where Trump once again demonstrated his ability to draw attention even at events where he is not the main attraction.
His appearance at Game 3 continues a pattern that has become familiar during his second term. Trump has maintained a highly visible presence at major sporting events across the country, including the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the Ryder Cup, and several college football games.
Whether greeted with cheers, boos, or a combination of both, his attendance almost guarantees that the spotlight will briefly shift away from the athletes and onto the president himself.
Monday night at Madison Square Garden was no exception. Even before the Knicks and Spurs took the floor, the crowd had already delivered one of the night's loudest reactions.