Donald Trump was met with a strong reaction from the crowd during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, held on Monday night, June 8, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The president of the United States appeared on the arena’s big screens during the performance of the national anthem, giving a military salute. As his image was shown, a significant portion of the crowd reacted with boos, creating one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Some applause could also be heard inside the arena, but the negative reaction prevailed among the fans in attendance. Trump’s presence at Madison Square Garden marked an unprecedented moment: he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game in person.
The game was played between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs and drew major national attention, both because the NBA Finals had returned to New York and because of the president’s presence. The visit also led to reinforced security measures around the arena.
Trump is booed in Madison Square Garden pic.twitter.com/HoippauVCj
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 9, 2026
After the episode, footage of the moment quickly circulated on social media, increasing the case’s repercussion among basketball fans, sports commentators and users following the final on television and online.
The episode took place on a night of high expectations for the Knicks, who were playing their first home game in the NBA Finals in nearly three decades. On the court, however, the San Antonio Spurs won 115-111, cutting the Knicks’ lead in the series.
Source and images: Social media. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
