U.S. President Donald Trump,his granddaughter Kai Trump, and New York Knicks owner James Dolan, attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., June 8, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard REFILE - CORRECTING FROM "NBA PLAYOFFS" TO "NBA FINALS".
President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden Monday night and was met with sustained booing both outside the arena and during the National Anthem broadcast.
In his podcast "Another Day," progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen criticized Trump's attendance as selfish, arguing the President habitually makes moments about himself. Cohen noted Trump prioritizes attending sporting events while New Yorkers face serious challenges.
"Now, to be fair, I understand why he'd want to do this. When you see a sporting event that allows you to apply only one extra color of paint to your face, you want to jump on it immediately." Said Cohen, adding, "But that feels like a pretty small win compared to the pretty big losses that New Yorkers are experiencing."
Trump's attendance created significant inconvenience for ordinary fans: the Knicks moved the watch party from outside the stadium to Bryant Park, and fans experienced two-hour security delays entering the arena. Some attendees urged Trump to "stay home."
Cohen characterized Trump's decision as emblematic of misplaced priorities, questioning the president's genuine concern for New Yorkers despite his former Manhattan residence.
Currently, Trump's approval ratings are declining ahead of midterm elections, during which Democrats could gain control of Congress.
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