Whoopi Goldberg defends Trump's Knicks-NBA Finals attendance: 'Anybody who’s a fan should be there'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Donald Trump made sports history on June 8, becoming the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game when he took his seat for Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
Trump's planned appearance prompted heightened security around Madison Square Garden, resulting in stricter entry protocols and the cancellation of watch parties near the arena.
While his attendance sparked outrage among critics, Trump found an unlikely ally in someone who has frequently been on the opposite side of the political divide.
On Monday, June 8 episode of ‘The View,’ host Whoopi Goldberg defended Trump ahead of his appearance at Game 3, reminding viewers that the president is originally from New York.
Whoopi Goldberg defends Trump's NBA appearance
Pushing back against fans objecting to Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending Game 3, Goldberg said, "I think anybody who’s a Knicks fan should be there. You earned the right as a Knicks fan. I don’t have to like you."
When co-host Ana Navarro wondered whether Trump's presence might "jinx" the Knicks, Goldberg brushed aside the concern, insisting the team would keep playing its game and likely would not even notice the president was in the building.
“I don’t think anything can jinx anything. I think these guys are on a mission,” Goldberg said of the Knicks players, adding, “They’re like the Blues Brothers, they’re on a mission from God. And they have been winning and doing everything, and, you know, you could be buck naked up in the box and ain’t nobody paying attention.”
Meanwhile, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin argued that the president could face blame if the Knicks lost.
"If I were advising him, I would be like, do not go, because if they lose tonight, everybody is going to " Farah Griffin said before Sunny Hostin interjected, "The jinx!"
Hostin argued that Trump should not attend because he could bring "bad juju," while Goldberg said fans should remain focused on the team.
"All we need to concentrate on is putting our energy and good energy towards them, towards the Knicks," Goldberg said. "That’s what this is about."
Backlash grows over Trump's Knicks attendance
Goldberg struck a notably different tone on June 8, expressing understanding for Trump's attendance while a growing list of celebrities voiced opposition to his appearance at Madison Square Garden.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) publicly questioned Trump's allegiance to the Knicks, saying, “It also is not clear to me that Donald Trump is a big Knicks fan. I mean, does this guy even know the difference between Karl Rove and Karl-Anthony Towns?!?”
“I don’t think so. He’s just injecting himself into the NBA Finals because he always has to bring the MAGA circus into town and that’s unfortunate,” he continued.
Stephen A Smith previously struck a similar tone, declaring that Trump had “no business showing up in New York City.” “It is selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous that he is coming to this game,” he added.
