donald trump recently attended Madison Square Garden for the NBA Finals to cheer on his hometown team, but basketball fans weren’t thrilled to see the president in the stadium. Additionally, he was booed during the national anthem. But Trump was seen smiling while giving the salute during the national anthem.
Donald Trump seen smiling after facing criticism in NBA finals
Donald Trump heads to Madison Square Garden on Monday to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals. However, many people were not excited to see the President at the games as he was praised during the national anthem. When Broadway star Avery Wilson began singing the national anthem, chants of “United States of America” echoed across the courtroom. However, shortly afterward, when Trump was shown on the Jumbotron saluting during the national anthem, the crowd began booing. But POTUS was caught smiling at this moment.
When the camera panned to Knicks star Jalen Brunson on the court, a loud cheer erupted. according to associated PressTrump watched the finals from Knicks owner James Dolan’s box. He was accompanied by his granddaughter, Kai, as well as administration officials, including Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum, and personal adviser Boris Epstein.
This is not the first time Trump has been criticized at a major sporting event. according to ShopWhen the President returned to Queens in late 2025 to attend the US Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, spectators jeered him. The audience reacted when he briefly emerged from his room before the start of the match and during the national anthem. After hearing the crowd’s reactions, Trump reportedly “offered a beaming smile that briefly intensified the boos.”
Since returning to the White House in January last year, Trump has attended several sports events, including the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 in New Orleans. He also watched the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, and the FIFA Club World Cup Finals in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At all these places, while some crowds cheered him, he was jeered at many events.