Did Knicks fans boo Donald Trump? Here’s the video from NBA Finals Game 3 to decide for yourself
Celebrity row is always a big deal at New York Knicks home games, and for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, plenty of big names were courtside. Perhaps the most notable attendee, however, was up in a suite.
President Donald Trump made good on his promise to attend Knicks vs. Spurs on Monday night, appearing in a suite with team owner James Dolan — officially becoming the first known sitting U.S. president to attend a Finals game.
Trump was shown to the Madison Square Garden crowd during the national anthem, saluting as Avery Wilson sang «The Star-Spangled Banner» and receiving an audible reaction, including some certain boos, from Knicks fans.
Here’s a look at how the crowd at MSG reacted to Trump’s being shown on the JumboTron.
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Donald Trump Madison Square Garden reaction
Trump’s attendance was partially controversial for how much it boosted the security at Madison Square Garden — Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox called the president’s attendance and how it impacted security «inconvenient,» while there were long lines of fans seen outside the building hours before tip-off.
Later on, once fans were settled into their seats, Trump was shown to the crowd during the national anthem. Broadcast cameras showed him saluting from his suite, and as fans in the building saw the president, a mixture of boos and cheers could be heard on ABC.
President Trump is in attendance for Game 3 in New York.
He’s the first sitting U.S. President to attend an NBA Finals game. pic.twitter.com/sHdRNArzUu
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— ESPN (@espn) June 9, 2026
Here are more clips from Trump’s national anthem moment from inside Madison Square Garden, with louder boos able to be heard:
Audible reaction from Knicks fans as President Trump is shown on the big screen during the national anthem.pic.twitter.com/sg9zSRDUHd
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 9, 2026
pic.twitter.com/5iyUfXWJlr
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) June 9, 2026
During the national anthem, President Donald Trump was booed by the Game 3 crowd at MSG. pic.twitter.com/MkS4Qk7eQ7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 9, 2026
MORE: Why De’Aaron Fox called Donald Trump’s Game 3 attendance «inconvenient»
Why is Donald Trump at the Knicks game?
Trump was in attendance for Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals in New York City not just because he is a known Knicks fan, but also because the team’s owner, Jim Dolan, extended an invitation to the president.
After Trump recently told reporters he planned to attend a Finals game, it became official.
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MORE: Live updates on Donald Trump’s attendance at Game 3
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