Donald Trump booed by the crowd during the anthem prior to Game 3 of...
Donald Trump was booed loudly by fans inside Madison Square Garden when he was shown on video screens during the national anthem before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Finals game. He appeared to salute briefly, and the boos subsided when the U.S. flag appeared and Knicks players were shown. Trump sat in James Dolan's suite with his granddaughter Kai, personal adviser Boris Epshteyn, and cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy, and Doug Burgum. He traveled from his New Jersey home aboard Marine One and arrived in Manhattan roughly an hour before tipoff.
Security around MSG was tight, with a large perimeter and magnetometer checks that slowed entry for hours. Fans lined up more than four hours before tipoff, and watch parties outside were canceled as gate access became highly controlled. Outside the arena, some protesters held signs reading 'Trump must go.' Knicks coach Mike Brown and Spurs coach Mitch Johnson downplayed inconveniences, noting security is part of the spectacle. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said New Yorkers could anticipate a return of watch parties for Game 4, while the surrounding closures shaped a tense pregame mood.
