Trump booed in New York as he becomes first US president to attend NBA Finals

The catcalls came after ticketholders faced airport-style security to enter the venue at Madison Square Garden. Trump booed at Knicks-Spurs game as he became first US president at NBA Finals Watch: Trump booed during the NBA national anthem Watch: Tightened security in New York ahead of Trump appearance at NBA Finals game Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. US President Donald Trump looks on prior to a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. Trump booed in New York as he becomes first US president to attend NBA Finals Donald Trump's granddaughter claps next to the US president as they stand in a NBA box. Donald Trump has been booed at a basketball match in New York as he became the first sitting US president to attend the NBA Finals. The catcalls came after frustrated ticketholders waited for hours in queues that stretched more than two blocks outside Madison Square Garden on Monday due to the intense security restrictions that came with the US president's appearance. The New York Knicks lost 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven NBA finals, cutting the Knicks' lead in the series to 2-1. After the game, Trump told reporters: "It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic." 'Traitor' - Elmo in hot water with New Yorkers over Knicks NBA finals San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama points Wembanaya stars as Spurs trim Knicks' Finals lead Booing broke out on Monday evening when a camera showed Trump on large screens in the arena, saluting as a singer performed the national anthem. The president attended with his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan, along with members of his administration that included Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The Republican president, who was born in the New York City borough of Queens, has had a difficult relationship with his heavily Democratic hometown. The US president was shown on the jumbotron in the centre of the arena before the game Donald Trump (left) is shown saluting on the jumbotron screen in the middle of the arena, leading to loud boos. Photo: 8 June 2026 Trump, who had been at his New Jersey golf club earlier in the day, flew to downtown Manhattan by taking the Marine One helicopter. He then travelled by motorcade to the venue. Trump's arrival meant the streets around Madison Square Garden were shut down to foot and vehicle traffic. Thousands of New York Police Department officers and hundreds of Secret Service officers were deployed. Metal barriers were put up at each block as sports fans faced an airport-style gauntlet of security. For bars in the area showing the finals game, this would normally be a lucrative night. But the barriers stopped foot traffic and left many pubs empty. Disgruntled Knicks fans as well as regular commuters struggled to navigate the celebrations. One New Yorker told the BBC the high security was "killing the vibe of the Knicks". This season has represented a stunning reversal of fortune for the Knicks, appearing in their first Finals since 1999 after decades as one of the worst teams in the league. A parade of celebrities also attended the game at Madison Square Garden From left to right: actors Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet watch a basketball match between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Photo: 8 June 2026 Celebrities including Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet filled courtside seats. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was there. Manhattan was crowded with fans of the Knicks decked out in orange and blue, many watching the game in the streets and at watch parties. The streets around popular Bryant Park were filled as fans gathered at a community watch party after one outside Madison Square Garden, where the game is happening, was cancelled due to Trump's appearance. People ran up and down the streets near Bryant Park, celebrating and cheering every time the Knicks scored a point. As the game started, some fans could be seen climbing scaffolding attached to buildings. Others in the busy streets crowded around a laptop to watch the game. One 44-year-old fan, who watched the game at Bryant Park, said he was 17 years old the last time the Knicks were in finals, when like this year, they played the San Antonio Spurs. He said the disruption caused by Trump's visit was "very annoying". Knicks fan Anthony Pulley, 43, told AFP news agency he found the disruption annoying, but he appreciated Trump coming to the game. "I think it really put a damper on all the watch parties," he said. "But it's pretty cool he wants to show up and be a part of it." Trump has a long history of attending Knicks games - he is pictured here in 1993 US President Donald Trump pictured at Madison Square Garden attending a New York Knicks basketball game From the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center, skyscrapers were lit up orange and blue - the Knicks' team colours. On the last two game nights, throngs of supporters in Knicks gear took over streets near the arena - even though their team was playing at their opponents' arena in Texas - leading to dozens of arrests as fans climbed lampposts, jumped on to food carts, and blocked traffic. Many fans weren't able to afford tickets to the first series home game, with the cheapest online resale tickets going for more than $10,000 (£7,500) and going up to more than $100,000. Regular Knicks games already rank among the most expensive in the NBA. "That's the way life goes," Trump said on Friday when asked about the extreme prices. "It's sort of semi-free to watch it on television." Mayor Mamdani told reporters he paid nearly $1,000 for his ticket to the game. Split screen. Left, various police officers are barricading a street. Right, Sakshi Venkatraman is seen holding a mic. A Knicks fan in front of a building waves an orange and blue flag Knicks' long-awaited NBA run electrifies NYC, with Trump set to attend key game The crew of a sanctioned oil tanker were rescued off Oman after it was struck by a missile fired from a US fighter jet. An uncrewed vessel picked up two crew members of an Apache helicopter that went down on Monday, US officials tells CBS News. Israel's PM says his country is holding fire "at the moment", after Iran's armed forces said they had stopped military action. Iran appears emboldened by the outcome and its leaders may sense Trump's appetite for risk is low. In a call with the US president, the BBC’s Sarah Smith asked Trump about the war in Iran and his relationship with the Israeli leader. The Knicks' stunning winning streak has energised New York as the team prepares for the third game of the NBA Finals at home. For the first time since the start of a precarious ceasefire two months ago, Israel and Iran have traded missile strikes. President Trump denies having promised 'no new wars'. BBC Verify has found multiple examples of him saying this during the 2024 US election campaign.