While I haven’t been watching the NBA Finals, I have been enjoying all of the drama from New York Knicks’ fans, who are very loud and very online. I’ve even been rooting for the Knicks over the San Antonio Spurs, just because I think the Knicks winning the championship would be amazing for the city of New York. The energy around the Knicks and the Knicks-fandom has been elite. The Knicks won Game 1 & Game 2 on the road, in San Antonio. For Game 3, they got to play at home, at Madison Square Garden. The problem? A terrible orange man decided to waddle into MSG and kill the good vibe. Donald Trump staggered into MSG last night, got booed to hell and back, fell asleep during the game, and the Knicks lost, 115-111.
The biggest reaction to Trump’s presence came during the National Anthem – when Trump’s ugly mug flashed onto the Jumbotron, it felt like ALL of MSG booed him. Trump was apparently invited to the game by Knicks’ owner James Dolan. Like… is Dolan not superstitious? Why would you, a team owner looking at your team’s best chance for a championship since 1973, go out of your way to kill the positive energy and good vibes? Why would you not want to keep everyone in the same winning-mindset vibe? Trump is always going to want to attend these big sporting events, because he’s a horse’s ass and a narcissist. It’s up to team owners and NBA officials to say no, you can’t make this moment all about Trump.
Trump is booed in Madison Square Garden pic.twitter.com/HoippauVCj
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 9, 2026
— Evan Roberts (@EvanRobertsWFAN) June 9, 2026
DONALD TRUMP HAS FALLEN ASLEEP AT THE NBA FINALS IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. pic.twitter.com/rFrW6c4cME
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) June 9, 2026
Crowd at Bryant Park watch party also booed President Trump. pic.twitter.com/aV3bTxqbRa
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 9, 2026
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Washington, DC President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment in what he described as a “Beautiful, Clean Coal” initiative during an event in Washington, D.C. Pictured: Donald J Trump BACKGRID USA 5 JUNE 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DIST US President Donald J. Trump responds to a question from the news media during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. President Trump signed executive orders on the federal workforce and immigration. Pictured: Donald Trump BACKGRID USA 3 JUNE 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DIST US President Donald J. Trump responds to a question from the news media during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. President Trump signed executive orders on the federal workforce and immigration. Pictured: Donald Trump BACKGRID USA 3 JUNE 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DC President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment in what he described as a “Beautiful, Clean Coal” initiative during an event in Washington, D.C. Pictured: Donald J Trump BACKGRID USA 5 JUNE 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Washington, DC President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment in what he described as a “Beautiful, Clean Coal” initiative during an event in Washington, D.C. Pictured: Donald J Trump BACKGRID USA 5 JUNE 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Kudos to whomever decided to show him during the national anthem. The audio couldn’t be cut with cutting out the singer , and cutting the audio of the national anthem would have been super obvious.
Oh I like that. That’s a bit of a galaxy brain interpretation of showing him during the anthem, because I assumed they did it because they were hoping the anthem would discourage booing. Which, lmao if that was the case.
Kudos also to whoever booked Avery Wilson to sing the anthem and Cardi B for halftime. Trump and his MAGA crew had to endure those boos while listening to Wilson, who is black and LGBTQ, perform the anthem beautifully.
Anyone notice the Felon is looking more and more like a reptile in his recent photos? His eyes!
Yes.
Considering just how much New Yorkers hate him – it was still glorious.
Well as all Knicks fans know Dolan is also a big piece of garbage so it tracks.
I read that he was kissing orange ass because federal approval is needed for moving MSG.
This mob government just ruins everything.
Federal approval is needed for it to stay put. They were going to tear it down and move it across the street (to what end? I have no idea). Dolan wanted it to remain.
He will probably use all that in his propaganda to rejuvenate MAGA and the far right loonies. To create an enemy out of NYC. He will probably nuke us too. He’s an idiot.
And now the Knicks lost because of his presence.
Making the Knicks lose last night was the only good thing he’s ever done lol.
I think there were some public events for fans that had to be cut at the last minute and rule changes in the arena because of Trump. Sooo…that likely pissed off the few remaining supporters he would have had there. He disrupts everything he goes to and ruins it.
Major event – the MSG block party – was cut and the routes in and out of MSG were altered without notice to ticket holders who were walking around the building for blocks trying to find their way in.
The security was insane. I’m surprised the 💩 stain didn’t demand they move the game to a ballroom.
Huge swath of midtown streets near the Garden were closed to cars and pedestrians. Penn Station is beneath the Garden! Commuters had to show their train tickets to cops to get inside.
I just knew The Knicks would lose once he showed up.😢😢😢
Dolan is a massive Trumper and MAGA supporter. Ofc he wanted him there.
Rooting for the Knicks, but I kinda love that they lost in front of Trump. He really ruins everything he touches.
So the guy who owns the NY Knicks isn’t a Knicks fan apparently because it was all predictable. Also, is this Dolan any relation to the former Cardinal Dolan? Because he loved the monster too.
Billionaires are fans of nothing more than money and power. I really want the Knicks to win, but I’m happy they lost last night. They can win in five.
Dolan is a terrible owner. There’s a reason the Knicks haven’t won a title in 123,456 years…
As a member of a family that has held Celtics season tickets for over half a century and Red Sox tickets for a quarter century, I cannot in good conscience root for the Knicks – you Knicks fans understand this – but, as a survivor of the Babe Ruth curse, I know your pain. I also truly appreciate those of you, like Spike Lee, who have followed your team through thick and thin, through good years and some extremely bleak years. I respect you when you come to the Garden and either sit quietly cheering your team on or loudly cheer your team on – some of you have provided some of our most entertaining moments, You did NOT deserve what that monster did to you last night. You deserved your block party. You deserved your first home Finals game in 3 decades to be all about you and your team. He stole that from you and for that you have my deep sympathy. So, I give to you what Dr J said was the ultimate support a Celtics fan could give anyone, a gift he claims to have treasured for almost as long as your drought – yes, I know you’re playing the Spurs but Dr J was right and it doesn’t matter who the opponent is; “BEAT LA!”
LP, I love this so much 🫡
True Bostonians and New Yorkers know the rivalries are fierce but the respect runs deep and we’re there for each other, be it by plane, Amtrak, car or the late great Fung Wa bus, when the bad things happen.
Also a Celtics fan and I couldn’t have said it better. No notes. We love NYC and New Yorkers, but our DNA prevents us from supporting NY teams lol.
So jealous of your Celtics season tickets, LP. My husband is a medic for the team so he gets to see a lot of free games but man would he love to have season tix!
Another Celtics fan here, but: the Knicks are my second favorite team, because I grew up in Western Massachusetts and we watched Albany channels on TV, pre-cable. As a kid, I rooted for the great early 1970s Knicks with Walt Frazier (who still looks amazing in his fabulous suits).
I didn’t move to Eastern Massachusetts and embrace the Celtics until the Larry Bird era.
Lol we heard those boos all the way in Canada! Love this for him. He got booed then took a nap. It’s not like he has a country to run, an economy to fix, concentration camps to close or a war to end or anything.
Even my husband (a life long Knicks fan) who is nowhere near as vocal as I am about politics said, “They lost because ‘that guy’ was there.” We don’t say his name in our house.
It’s like saying “Voldemort”
Exactly, Delta Juliet! I refer to him as the “mean, bad orange man” to my little daughter but only if he pops up on television. We don’t discuss him in front of her otherwise. I just hope he’s gone by the time she understands who the president is.
There has been such an atmosphere of optimism, exceitment and joy in NYC recently. The knicks are truly bringing this city together. So of course this diaper filled overgrown toddler has to come and ruin it.
F him and Knicks in five!
Knicks winning streak plus you guys FINALLY got the mayor you always deserved. Of course Diaper Don had to ruin it because everything he touches dies.
It is annoying af how Trump, the draft dodger, always salutes during the national anthem. We know how he despises the military except when he is in charge of it. As a civilian, the correct protocol is hand on heart. Only uniformed military and active duty are supposed to salute 🫡. But he wants to cosplay soldier now that his bonespurs have healed. I despise him with the heat of a thousand suns.
San Antonio is laughing. Go Spurs!
Remember the first Ghostbusters movie when the religious leaders of all faiths blessing the Ghostbuster car Ecto 1? Well all the faith leaders will have to come together to get that bad juju out of MSG.
Mayor Zohran the WonderMan rerouted the watch party to a local area park and provided free admittance so fans could watch the game (sorry, forgot the park’s name). I feel bad for the businesses that lost money bc the areas and streets around MSG were closed down by the Secret Service. The Knicks really haven’t won an NBA final since Nixon? Yikes! I’m a Texan but I love seeing how New Yorkers are coming together with such loud enthusiasm and support for their team. We can all use a happy temporary distraction from this hellscape.
I didn’t watch the game but multiple videos of YouTuber’s ranting about this kept popping up in my feed so I watched a couple of them. The Felon is supposed to go to both games 3&4. The owner is either an idiot for inviting The Felon, or a patriot for so publicly humiliating him, knowing how fans would react. One YouTuber, Secular Talk, said (I’m paraphrasing)- The Felon is so narcissistic and empty inside, that he can’t stand for anyone else to be the center of attention and just HAS to inject himself into everything. He also said that if the Knicks lost, NYers would blame and hate The Felon even more, and the Felon would then play victim if blamed, or take credit if the Knicks won. He and others noted that true basketball fan former Prez Obama didn’t even go to any NBA finals during his presidency bc of the inconvenience and disruptions his presence would cause. I can also see The Felon taking a perverse pleasure in “jinxing”/punishing the Knicks and NYers bc New York never really accepted him – conveniently forgetting all of the times he refused to pay contractors and builders their money for completed work, and all the constant lying, stealing, and conning of basically everyone, not to mention the Epstein of it all.
He’s supposed to go to both games?!!! Ffs, it’s like the owner wants them to lose. Not to mention all that disruption to travelers and the city. In normal times, he’d have so much to do that going would be ridiculous.
I love that he got booed to his face though. Good job, NYers.
My son thought Trump would curse the game. I’m not sure if I believe in curses but they definitely ended their 13 game win streak. A 13 game win streak!
I know we’re a decade into this madness, but I just want to point out that HE FELL ASLEEP at the game! He falls asleep in the middle of the day, in the middle of meetings ON TV!!
I know “if Obama did…” is beyond worn out, but can you imagine? Can you imagine if Biden fell asleep like that?? This place is Crazytown sometimes.
It was the best possible outcome for the Knicks to lose that game (sorry, Knicks fans).
It was a vivid illustration of the fact that Trump is poison.
My apologies to the fans, but I totally agree. That hideous orange fucker would have claimed credit if they’d won.
Everything that Donny touches dies.
The owner of the Knicks appeared to be napping also. The team must hate the owner. These old, rich white guys are disgusting.
His grandaughter’s face told that she knew that grandad was being booed by most of MSG last night.
Disturbing to see his young granddaughter at his side…
Bad joke going around in SA–“why is DT a fan of the Spurs? Because they got him out of Vietnam.”
Seriously tho, absolutely hate him and everything he does, including showing up to this game and ruining the experience for everyone. I’m a ride-or-die Spurs fan, but both these teams and their fans deserve a great, well played series without stupid distractions like this.
I was surprisingly proud at the ppl in the Garden last night. With the cheapest tickets going for a mind boggling $8000 most of us average NYers were priced out. I figured the people who could and were willing to spend that kind of money were his type of people. Pleasant surprise!
I loved this. I played the video probably 5x!
I’ve watched way too much coverage of this debacle. Dolan invited Trump because he wants government contracts. As someone noted above, there a reason the Knicks haven’t won in so long, and that reason is Dolan. With all the closures, etc. fans were pissed off. They booed the motorcade when Trump arrived. They booed him during the National Anthem. He said there were only a few boos, mostly wildly cheering for him. Sure dude, okay. He fell asleep during the game. Oh no, he was just resting his eyes. He left early, because of course real fans always leave early. I saw a list of the people he brought with him on another website and one name was left off the list. Steve Witkoff. You know, one of the guys who is supposedly negotiating the Iran peace treaty. How convenient he was left off the list. I apologize for all the sarcasm, I’m just disgusted by all of this today.
Only booing? Interpret that as you like.
Spurs win! Spurs win! Don’t care one bit about NY energy. Trump just cemented a win by San Antonio. Ha. Ha.
It figures that Trump would cause the Knicks to lose. Demon energy.
Being a Rockets fan we’re not allowed to root for other Texas teams….is the owner of the Spurs a Trumper? You know the Knicks players would go the White House to kiss his orange ass.