Some Knicks fans say the president is not welcome at Madison Square Garden.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/08/trump-self-avowed-knicks-fan-may-face-boos-nba-finals
President Donald Trump is used to cheers at his highly curated rallies and events. But on Monday night hes widely expected to be showered with boos when he becomes the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
Trump said he will watch Game 3 of the best-of-seven series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs as the guest of Knicks owner James Dolan. Some sports fans and analysts have urged Trump not to attend the game commentator Stephen A. Smith said it would create an unnecessary spectacle or pledged to jeer the president.
Online betting services also predict Trump will be booed in his visit to deep-blue New York City and the Knicks arena, Madison Square Garden. The teams fans are famously unforgiving quick to taunt rival players, the teams own stars and recent New York mayor Eric Adams just days after his inauguration.
As an added frustration, Trumps presence will create logistical hurdles for the roughly 20,000 other attendees, who have been told to arrive at least two hours before tip-off because of the enhanced security measures that follow the president. City officials have also said there will be no watch parties outside the arena for the thousands of fans who cant get inside, breaking with recent practice.