Trump appears to doze off while attending NBA Finals Game 3 at MSG

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As the San Antonio Spurs chipped away at the New York Knicks' lead, President Donald Trump appeared to spend part of the night taking long blinks through the pain of watching his favorite team struggle.

The 79-year-old made history on Monday, June 8, becoming the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game when he took his seat at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 between the Knicks and Spurs. However, the conversation soon drifted from basketball to allegations that he appeared to be battling sleep behind glass walls.

Trump caught taking long blinks

The president ditched the courtside seats to enjoy the game from behind bulletproof glass in a luxury suite at Madison Square Garden.

The protected seating fit the wider security operation around Trump’s attendance. Secret Service involvement, TSA-style screening, a strict no-bag policy, street restrictions, and canceled outdoor watch-party plans all changed the way fans entered and moved around the arena.

As Trump sat next to Knicks owner James Dolan, cameras caught him closing his eyes as he folded his hands in his lap.

His head droops slightly for about 45 seconds, and then he opens his eyes with a jolt, looks around, and watches what's occurring on the court below him.

The president has been caught with his eyes closed during multiple public appearances since returning to the White House in January 2025, alarming experts who describe the habit as “not normal.”

The administration has repeatedly rejected claims that Trump dozes off in public, even when critics point to video clips they say suggest otherwise.

Trump faces a chorus of boos

Trump's NBA Finals appearance was marred by controversies even before the allegations that he had fallen asleep courtside made headlines.

Trump was loudly booed at Madison Square Garden as he was shown on the Jumbotron with Dolan in his suite above the court during the playing of the national anthem.

The jeers turned to cheers when the Jumbotron’s focus turned to Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who was shown standing on the court.

The president’s presence at the game caused waits of two hours or more for ticket-holding fans to enter the famed arena in Midtown Manhattan after security screening.

Trump's motorcade passed signs that read “Nobody wants you here” and “Trump must go,” as it moved from lower Manhattan up the FDR Drive and over to the Garden.

The star-studded crowd also included New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, legendary Knicks supporters Spike Lee and Ben Stiller, actor Timothee Chalamet, and 'Law & Order' stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.