President Donald Trump claimed he heard ‘mostly cheers’ from fans while attending the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals defeat by the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
The crowd at MSG erupted on Monday night when Trump appeared on the jumbotron during the performance of the national anthem before the basketball game.
The White House pool report noted that the President was ‘thunderously booed’ before the Spurs’ 115-111 victory over the Knicks in Game 3. But Trump had an alternate take.
‘You mean when they had the camera on me?’ he responded when asked about the loud reception on the tarmac of John F Kennedy International Airport.
‘I thought it was very good, yeah. It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers.’
The President added: ‘It was loud and it was very enthusiastic.’
The New York-born Trump called the game ‘fantastic’ – without taking sides in the heated rivalry.
‘Well played by both teams,’ Trump said. ‘We all had a lot of fun. It was great to watch. Very talented players.’
Monday night’s game was the Knicks’ first loss of the Finals, with New York winning both games on the road in San Antonio to start the series.
President Donald Trump said he heard ‘mostly cheers’ when he was booed at MSG Monday
Trump (C) displayed a wry smile alongside granddaughter Kai Trump (L) as he was booed
The president was given a brutal welcome by Knicks fans ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals
New York fans were hoping the Knicks could clinch the championship in four games, so that the winning game would be played at home on Wednesday night.
‘I’m going Knicks in five,’ said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from New York, standing alongside Trump on the tarmac.
Trump spent the game behind a bulletproof glass suite in the mid-level of the sports arena alongside Knicks owner James Dolan.
When the Jumbotron panned to Trump, he put his right hand up in the form of a salute and displayed a wry smile.
His granddaughter, Kai Trump, appeared to smirk as the President was booed.
When the Jumbotron panned to Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson, the crowd began to cheer.
Outside the arena, a watch party descended into violent chaos as fans brawled and police deployed pepper spray in a desperate attempt to disperse the crowds.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a short-notice big-screen viewing at Bryant Park.
Fans climb scaffolding and stand on top of an ice cream van near Bryant Park on Monday night
New York Knicks fans clash with officers outside the watch party in Midtown Manhattan
An officer uses pepper spray on fans as police try to calm the crowds outside Bryant Park
5,000 free tickets were dished out to Knicks fans to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but scenes turned ugly midway through the night, leading to riot police being deployed.
It is understood the violent scenes unfolded on the streets outside the viewing party, and clips posted on social media saw huge crowds of Knicks fans brawling.
In one video, published by Freedom News TV, two men can be seen swinging punches at each other while being cheered on by a large group, before others jump in and join in with the violence.
Others are filming the fight, and at one point a man swings around a large tree branch, before a man dressed as a superhero tries to break up the violence.
All fans entering MSG went through extra security checks and metal detectors before entering, and the steel ring meant that fans were subjected to lengthy waits that threatened to see them miss tip-off.
Trump was joined by family members, aides and allies at Monday night’s game.
The official list from the White House included Vanessa Trump – Kai’s mother and Donald Trump Jr’s ex, who’s now dating golf star, Tiger Woods – Administrator Zeldin, Secretaries Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum, Tiffany Trump’s husband Michael Boulos, and Steve Witkoff, who is facilitating the Iran negotiations.
Trump gave a fist to the crowd after the ‘thunderous’ boos from the fervent Knicks fans
Trump spoke to reporters just before boarding Air Force One at JFK Airport in New York
Outside the arena, Trump was greeted by expletive-laden signs and furious Knicks fans
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was also captured in the suite.
Other Trump aides on hand included Communications Director Steven Cheung, Dan Scavino, with his wife Erin, Boris Epshteyn, Walt Nauta, Margo Martin and Natalie Harp.
Cameras captured the President eating pizza and fries while he watched the game.
Trump headed back to Washington a little after midnight, where he awaits another grand sports spectacle – the UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn to mark his 80th birthday.
Before wheels up at JFK, the president also fielded a question about sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, who has previously teased a run to succeed Trump in 2028.
This week, the ESPN host had claimed it would be Trump’s fault if the Knicks lost Game 3, after their impressive victories in Games 1 and 2.
Hitting back, Trump said of Smith: ‘I think he’s a nice guy. You need a certain aptitude to run for President. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does actually.’
The New York-born Trump called the game ‘fantastic’ – without taking sides in the heated rivalry
Trump was also asked if he had any plans to attend Game 4, which is set to take place at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
Answering before the president, EPA administrator Zeldin noted: ‘We’re busy with a lot of important stuff right now,’ before Trump jumped in to state: ‘Like a war!’
Separately, Trump was also asked about the atmosphere of the NBA, to which he called it ‘a little left-wing’, adding ‘but it’s great entertainment.’
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Why do you think Trump’s appearance at the Knicks game sparked such a divided reaction from fans?
