U.S. President Donald Trump listens to the national anthem as he attends Game 3 of the NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., June 8, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump was viciously booed by the crowd at Madison Square Garden on Monday night during the National Anthem for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
ABC cameras caught Trump saluting in his suite while the anthem played, and it was the only time Trump was shown during the introduction. He attended the game with Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, as well as administration officials like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Lee Zeldin, who leads the Environmental Protection Agency.
A crowd that gathered outside the arena to watch Trump's motorcade roll in also booed him.
The boos rained down after Trump's attendance caused significant disruptions to the fan experience. For instance, the official watch party for the game was moved to Bryant Park to accommodate the additional security. Fans were also asked to show up several hours before tip-off because of heightened security.
Knicks fans at MSG boo Donald Trump during National Anthem pic.twitter.com/wLbHUSD7PS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 9, 2026