U.S. President Donald Trump was greeted by a resounding wave of boos from New Yorkers as he stood at attention during the national anthem ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
The crowd erupted in disapproval of Trump, the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, as he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden.
The Star-Spangled Banner was quickly drowned out by heckling as the president, encased in bulletproof glass, was captured cracking a smile amid the crescendo.
The jeers ended when the U.S. flag replaced him on the screens and fans cheered when New York Knicks players were shown. Mentions of the San Antonio Spurs also elicited vociferous boos.
“It was, I think, mostly cheers,” Trump told reporters after the game before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington. “It was loud and it was very enthusiastic.”
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The reaction followed a slew of additional security measures and the construction of a large perimeter around the venue that held fans outside for hours and forced them to wait in lines stretching blocks from the venue, according to the Associated Press.
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Attendees were required to show their tickets in order to pass through several checkpoints, including a Transportation Security Administration-style magnetometer.
As ticket holders waited, Trump’s Marine One helicopter flew from his home in New Jersey and landed near Wall Street ahead of his motorcade, which then made its way up through Manhattan and to the arena about an hour before the game began.
Trump watched Game 3 with his 19-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, personal adviser Boris Epshteyn and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum from Knicks owner James Dolan’s suite.
He sat next to Dolan for the first quarter and spent part of the second talking to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman.
With stepped-up security, a watch party outside was cancelled and ticket holders were not allowed to bring bags inside.
Fans had gathered near the arena to watch the Knicks during this playoff run, in which the Knicks won 13 straight games to reach the finals for the first time since 1999.
The Knicks’ winning streak ended Monday night, as the Spurs won 115-111. Game 4 will be played Wednesday night at the Garden.
It’s not the first time Trump has faced vocal reactions during a sporting event.
During the national anthem at a regular-season NFL game in November, the president was greeted by a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd as he appeared on the jumbotron late in the first half alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
— with files from The Associated Press
Media 🙄
I have seen videos of the majority of people cheering Trump.
I have seen videos of the majority of people booing Trump.
Which ones are real?
John the Baptist????? Are you going to HELL? You are the big “Just an azzhole”. Another loser!!!!!
You forgot to mention he was also cheered. Trump has been a season ticket holder for over 25 years!!
So what Carney got booed in Canada at a sporting event. What’s your point
@ Andy: Hey dumb azz. New York isn’t in Canada.
baby Donnie has to be the news so he tied up everything for hours in New York.
Just an azzhole.
Going to hell soon folks.
No real news to report or just too lazy?
To all you spouting the TDS hatbadge, go F*ck it, you MAGAt losers. Poor poor Trumpy Trump got his fat azz booed right out of the place! Poor MAGAts just cant take the world hates Trump.
TDS POST LMAO
Your writing an article about it only feeds his narcissism.
Democrats and Liberals are so rude. I recall the Elbows Up Canadians booing the American National Anthem. So class at all.
Trump being boo’d by far-left socialists in NYC is as big a news story as you reporting water is wet.
Lol who cares its NYC they just elected a terrorist as mayor.
Amazing that the tyrant toddler cannot tell the difference between boos and cheers. He also is slow to comprehend why the bullet proof glass is necessary. And he was miffed that the increase in the gasoline prices were not higher. Any higher and the bullet proof glass would not be sufficient.
TDS is strong with Global news and the socialist communists of New York! Another failing City!