Trump denies getting booed during NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden: 'It was very enthusiastic'

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden on June 8, poised to make history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

But instead of the applause he may have anticipated, the president was met with a chorus of boos from fans during the New York Knicks' showdown with the San Antonio Spurs.

Despite the hostile reception, Trump later rejected claims that he had been jeered, insisting the crowd's response was "amazing."

Trump says Knicks fans mostly cheered at MSG

A few hours after Game 3, the president was boarding Air Force One when he was asked about the reaction that erupted when his face appeared on the arena's jumbotrons.

"I thought it was great. I mean, I thought it was amazing, actually. You mean when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good,” he told reporters.

“It was certainly amazing. It was, it was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic,” he continued.

Trump may have described the reception as positive, but viral footage and widespread reports suggested he faced a decidedly hostile crowd. The crowd erupted in loud jeers when the stadium video screens cut to the 79-year-old during the national anthem.

Trump’s appearance at the NBA Finals was also marked by other controversial moments. After being booed at the arena, the president appeared to doze off as the Knicks suffered a close loss to the Spurs, ending their historic 13-game playoff winning streak.

ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith criticized Trump for appearing to sleep at MSG, saying, “The brother wasn't awake. If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn't you call out former President Joe Biden, 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you?”

Trump expected to skip NBA Finals Game 4

After being booed by New York Knicks fans, the president reportedly plans to skip Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Trump would not attend Game 4 because of “scheduling conflicts and obligations.”

“President Donald Trump is not expected to attend Game 4 of Knicks-Spurs in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden due to scheduling conflicts and obligations, sources tell ESPN. Trump, a lifelong Knicks fan, watched the majority of Game 3 from a suite,” Charania wrote in a post on X. 

Trump's decision to skip Wednesday's game is likely to come as welcome news for some Knicks fans, many of whom endured hours-long waits at security checkpoints during his previous visit to Madison Square Garden.

A planned watch party outside MSG was also canceled because of security concerns related to Trump's attendance. It is not yet known whether the fan fest will return for Game 4, although officials remain hopeful it can move forward.