Hakeem Jeffries says Trump 'ruined' Knicks' historic NBA finals game

WASHINGTON, DC: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has attacked President Donald Trump for planning to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

Jeffries accused the president of being an unwanted distraction, asking, "Why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing?"

Jeffries questions Trump’s motives for attending finals

During an appearance on CNN on Friday, June 5, when John Berman asked Jeffries as to what he believed the 'Knicks' fans would react when Trump is introduced during the game, Jeffries argued that President Trump’s attendance at the Knicks game is an unnecessary disruption. 

He expressed frustration that the city’s focus should be entirely on the team’s historic run rather than on Trump.

Jeffries told the host, "I’m not sure it’s going to be a good reception for him."

Despite President Trump's decades of attending games and NBA drafts in New York, Jeffries characterized the move as an attempt to "inject" himself into a moment that belongs to the fans.

He stated, "Like literally, the Knicks haven’t been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We’ve embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself."

Views from local leadership of New York

While Jeffries remains critical, other figures have offered a different take on the situation.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that "Before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," confirming that Trump has been a long-time presence at the Garden.

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also weighed in, suggesting that the focus should be on the championship.

The Mayor stated, "We look forward to welcoming any New Yorker who is excited about the Knicks to have that chance to win a championship."

Mamdani noted that while he will be at the game to support the team, he will be seated "in a very different section" from the president. 

Jeffries targets Trump's economy amid anticipation for Game 3

The conversation eventually turned to broader political arguments, with Jeffries attacking the president’s economic policies during his interview.

Jeffries, who does not plan to attend the game himself, stated, "I mean, come on, seriously, give us a break. Why doesn’t this guy just focus on trying to improve the quality of life of the American people? Because the Trump economy has been a disaster."

Regardless of the political back-and-forth, the upcoming game is set to be a historic occasion as the Knicks will play in the finals of the NBA after 27 long years.

Reportedly, it will mark the first time a sitting US president has attended an NBA Finals game.