Fact Check: Did Josh Hart refuse to play if Trump attends NBA Game 3?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: After President Donald Trump announced he would attend Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that New York Knicks player Josh Hart said he wouldn’t play if the president was present, sparking speculation. Let us analyze the viral rumor and fact-check the claim’s authenticity.
Claim: Josh Hart refuses to play if Donald Trump attends NBA Finals
Ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, which the president will attend, a rumor surfaced that Knicks player Josh Hart is boycotting the game due to Trump’s presence.
The claim was attributed to a report by Everyday Sport (ESP), sparking mixed reactions from fans, with many expressing concern over his alleged decision, while others remained skeptical and questioned the authenticity of the claim.
Fact Check: False, the claim originated as a satire
The claim, however, is false as there is no such report by ESP. A search on Google for the keywords ‘Josh Hart refuses to play if Trump attends’ yielded no relevant results from prominent news or sports media outlets, which, if true, would have triggered nationwide debates and backlash against the president, making headlines.
Moreover, the claim was posted by an X account called ‘Impeach Trump a 3rd Time’ which describes itself as a parody account.
A fact check by Grok stated, “The post shares a fake satirical image styled as an ESPN report claiming Knicks player Josh Hart will refuse to play in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals if President Trump attends Madison Square Garden. No credible reports confirm Hart plans to boycott or sit out.”
No watch party due to Donald Trump's visit
Trump, a longtime Knicks fan, confirmed on Friday that he would attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999. He has already attended several major sporting events in his second term, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Ryder Cup.
As part of Trump’s attendance, the New York Police Department on Sunday said that there will be no watch party outside Madison Square Garden.
"There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only," the statement read. "This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4."
