President Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, and when his image appeared during the national anthem trump booed at msg, drawing a loud chorus of boos from the crowd.
The San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 in the contest, which marked the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999 and made Trump the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game.
Trump sat in a suite above the first bowl, sometimes turning to speak with others in the box instead of cheering, and he shared the space with Knicks owner James Dolan and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin among others.
Reporters observed Trump briefly stand and applaud at the end of the first half, return for the third quarter, and watch the final 6.8 seconds on his feet before leaving as the Knicks missed a late three-point attempt.
During the game Trump was seen eating a bucket of French fries and drinking what appeared to be a Diet Coke, and one account said he appeared to fall asleep briefly while in the box.
Security Measures Reactions And Local Impact
The president's attendance brought heightened security, including perimeter fences, sand-filled trucks, checkpoints and "TSA-style screening procedures" that prompted the Knicks to urge fans to arrive at least two hours early and comply with a strict no-bag policy.
Officials canceled the traditional watch party outside Madison Square Garden, and the NYPD closed streets around the arena from West 30th to West 35th streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues, blocking subway exits and vehicle traffic.
Authorities dispersed an unauthorized projection viewing on a building near Broadway and Sixth Avenue and officers near Bryant Park donned riot helmets as they moved to control unrest during the game.
Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox described the security screening as like "getting screened by TSA," and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Jim Dolan invited the president and called Trump a "genuine Knicks fan" while welcoming his attendance.
City officials reported that parts of midtown experienced major delays and restricted access, with some fans expressing confusion at the airport-style lines, and one earlier watch party in San Antonio had ended with more than a dozen arrests.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani organized a nearby free event and purchased a standing-room ticket, and Newsday's Laura Figueroa Hernandez was listed as a contributor to reporting on the scene.
