Trump watches Knicks Finals game with granddaughter Kai from luxury MSG suite amid boos and cheers

Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden alongside family members and administration officials, receiving immediate attention from cameras and fans alike. The president has long described himself as a Knicks supporter and had spoken publicly about attending the Finals after New York’s impressive playoff run. The president watched the game from Knicks owner's luxury suite alongside his granddaughter Kai Trump, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other guests. Trump was also seen speaking during the game with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Republican New York gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman.

For the first quarter, Trump was right next to Dolan. During the second, he chatted with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Bruce Blakeman, who’s running for governor. Several Democratic politicians criticized the president’s attendance ahead of the game. Despite the backlash, Trump appeared energized by the event and was seen smiling and waving to fans inside the arena. 'I thought it was amazing, actually,' Trump told reporters as he prepared to depart from JFK.

The appearance marked the first time a sitting president attended an NBA Finals game in person, adding another historic moment to Madison Square Garden’s long sports legacy. Trump’s presence generated a range of reactions from spectators. Reports described both cheers and boos when he appeared on the jumbotron during pregame festivities, underscoring the political polarization that often follows him in public events. Trump was unaffected by the uproar, 'It was, I think, mostly cheers,' he told reporters after the game. 'It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.'

The heightened restrictions also led to the cancellation of fan watch parties outside Madison Square Garden, angering some Knicks supporters who argued that Trump’s appearance disrupted the celebration surrounding the team’s historic playoff run. Trump has increasingly embraced high-profile sporting appearances during his second term, previously attending the Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup earlier this year.

Trump's arrival led to the closure of streets around Madison Square Garden to both foot and vehicle traffic. Thousands of New York Police Department officers and hundreds of Secret Service agents were deployed. Metal barriers were set up on each block, forcing sports fans to go through airport-style security. For bars in the area showing the finals game, this would normally be a lucrative night, but the barriers stopped foot traffic and left many pubs empty. Disgruntled Knicks fans and regular commuters struggled to navigate the celebrations. One New Yorker quipped that the heightened security was 'killing the vibe of the Knicks.'