With calls of American “resilience and unity” this 250th birthday and chants of “USA, USA” from the the crowd of nearly 20,000 in a packed Madison Square Garden for tonight’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Donald Trump learned how Knicks fans really felt about him.
The one-time New York resident was loudly and vigorously booed by the hometown crowd as the former Apprentice host was shown on the jumbotron of the legendary arena. Jeered with the same passion that greeted championship rivals the San Antonio Spurs, Trump was seen saluting during the singing of the National Anthem.
ABC may be under early license renewal reviews by MAGA loyalist Brendan Carr and the FCC in a clear case of political intimidation, but Josh D’Amaro-led parent company Disney made sure to have their network and ESPN cameras on Trump when the boos began. The anti-Trump cries soon turned to bellowing cheers when those same cameras quickly cut to Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson on the MSG court.
The response Trump received inside the Garden was on par in relative terms with the taunts and foul mouth decries he endured as the presidential motorcade made its way past Knicks fans Monday.
Never very poplar in NYC, POTUS did himself no favors with security concerns leading to the watch party outside MSG being cancelled tonight.
Along with one of his granddaughters and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump is seated in a suite with Knicks (and AMC) owner James Dolan, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, attorney Boris Epshteyn and ex-MTV unscripted star and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Courtside, tonight’s game sees die-hard Knicks fans Spike Lee, Tracey Morgan, Ben Stiller, Jay-Z, Larry David and an orange jumpsuit garbed Timothée Chalamet.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is in the Knicks’ house too.
In the NBA Finals for the first time since Bill Clinton was president, the Knicks lead the Spurs 2-0 going into tonight.
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