Trump Makes History and Prompts Criticism When Attending NBA Finals in New York City
President Donald Trump made history on Monday night when he became the first U.S. president to attend the NBA finals. Here is a look at the historic occasion, the extra security precautions that had to be put in place, and how the event unfolded.
Trump Attends NBA Finals, Prompting Criticism
The New York Knicks hosted the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night in Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA finals. While the series itself is grabbing headlines around the world, the presence of President Trump at the game added another layer of newsworthiness.
Trump's attendance prompted criticism among many New Yorkers, as it necessitated more security in and around the famous arena. The president arrived just before tipoff, sitting in a suite with Knicks owner James Dolan. Although Dolan is a registered Democrat, he is known to be a long-time friend of Trump and a major donor. Also in the box suite were several members of Trump's cabinet and his granddaughter, Kai Trump.
The suite, located at the back of the lower bowl of the arena, was housed in bulletproof protective glass. This was just one of the additional layers of protection added ahead of the game.
Trump arrived at the Garden wearing a dark suit and red tie. He traveled aboard Marine One from his home in New Jersey to a landing location near Wall Street. From there, the presidential motorcade traveled to midtown to arrive at the Garden almost an hour before tip-off. The president boarded Air Force One after the game ended to return to Washington, D.C.
The president and his staff brushed off a chilly reception during both the motorcade and at the arena. The crowd erupted in boos when the president was shown saluting the flag during the national anthem. However, Trump told the media that he thought it was "mostly cheers," saying that "It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic." Fans watching the game on a big-screen television in Bryant Park also booed the president when his face was shown on the arena Jumbotron.
Extra Security Measures in Advance of Trump's Appearance at the Garden
In addition to the installation of the bulletproof glass around the suite, Secret Service personnel and extra law enforcement officials were positioned in droves at every corner outside of the Garden. Attendees, members of the media, and arena employees were required to show their tickets or credentials at several checkpoints. The area surrounding the arena was also off-limits a few hours prior to the game.
Many fans complained about the hassle of the extra security. Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox also complained about the heightened security, saying that it was "inconvenient on everybody else." Fox said that the Spurs had to arrive earlier than usual in order to get through security.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver took a more neutral approach to the president's presence at the game. Silver acknowledged that there was some inconvenience to fans but noted that fans "listened, they came early, and they go through the extra security." The commissioner went on to say that "I think we should use sports to create more of a sense of community." Silver also told reporters that he believed that the president was a "genuine Knicks fan" who should be welcomed at what was the biggest NBA game in the Big Apple since the last time the team was in the finals in 1999.
Both head coaches downplayed the impact of Trump's attendance on their pregame preparations. Knicks coach Mike Brown confirmed that he stayed at a hotel downtown the night before the game simply because the team was practicing at the Garden instead of its normal routine at its Westchester County facility. Other than that, Brown said that the game-day preparations were not affected by Trump's visit.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson echoed Brown's sentiments, saying that the team was trying to stick to a normal schedule. Johnson also downplayed the narrative that the president attending the game was a distraction.
On the other side of the political aisle, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended the game. The newly elected mayor tried to blend in with the crowd in the standing-room-only section at the event.
Other notable attendees at Game 3 on Monday included Yankees legend Derek Jeter, former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, and actors Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Tina Fey. Naturally, one of the Knicks' most die-hard fans, director Spike Lee, was also in attendance to cheer on his favorite team.
Oh, and the game? The Spurs pulled out a four-point victory, winning 115 - 111. The series now sits at 2 -1 in favor of the Knicks after New York won both games in San Antonio. Game 4 tips off on Wednesday at 8:30 pm ET back at Madison Square Garden.
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