yahoo - 6/9/2026 11:37:45 PM - GMT (+2 )
President Donald Trump was booed, loudly and at length, when he appeared on the Jumbotron during the national anthem before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
The arena had been chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as Avery Wilson began to sing The Star Spangled Banner. The Trump’s face appeared on the screen for the first time since he had entered the arena, saluting the flag and the arena erupted in boos.
While the booing was clear on the ABC broadcast, people inside the arena also posted videos capturing the booing.
The Athletic's Esfandiar Baraheni recorded the moment it turned.
Trump booed very loudly here at MSG pic.twitter.com/IeQwwqGtop
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 9, 2026
The White House press pool put it plainly: “loud and long.” The crowd didn’t let up until the camera moved and found Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
New York Post editor Mark Hale caught the booing from a side angle.
President Trump booed during National Anthem of NBA Finals Game 3 pic.twitter.com/bimQuNGgIX
— New York Post (@nypost) June 9, 2026
WFAN host Evan Roberts also caught the reaction to the president from his seats.
— Evan Roberts (@EvanRobertsWFAN) June 9, 2026
Fans caught the booing as well.
Trump booed in NYC pic.twitter.com/vQFnDJhIWk
— SNEAKO (@sneako) June 9, 2026
One reporter said the booing for Trump was worse than the boos for the San Antonio Spurs.
They showed Trump on the Jumbotron during the anthem. He got more boos than the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/nYq69hGPiS
— Albert Samaha (@AlbertSamaha) June 9, 2026
Even outside the arena, Trump was booed. The watch party at Bryant Park was loud too.
Crowd at Bryant Park watch party also booed President Trump. pic.twitter.com/aV3bTxqbRa
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 9, 2026
Trump wasn’t rattled, at least not publicly. Boarding Air Force One after the game, the president told reporters, “I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud. And it was enthusiastic.”
He attended as the guest of Knicks owner James Dolan and became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. The Knicks lost 115-111. They lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is on Wednesday at MSG, ESPN reported that Trump will not attend.
Joining Trump in the suite were White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, EP Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump. Also in the suite was Envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of White House Oval Office operations Walt Nauta, longtime Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, and executive assistant to the president Natalie Harp.
CNN reported that his son-in-law Jared Kuschner was also in the suite.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump booed at NBA Finals in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden
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