Trump booed at NBA Finals in New York, smiles during anthem salute

During Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, Donald Trump faced boos from the crowd while saluting during the national anthem, yet he appeared to smile throughout the moment.

Donald Trump’s Reaction to NBA Finals Crowd

On Monday, Donald Trump attended the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden to support his hometown team. As Broadway performer Avery Wilson began singing the national anthem, chants of "USA" filled the arena. However, when Trump was shown on the Jumbotron saluting the anthem, the crowd responded with boos. Despite this, Trump was seen smiling during the reaction.

The boos were followed by cheers directed at Knicks player Jalen Brunson on the court. According to the Associated Press, Trump watched the game from the box of Knicks owner James Dolan. He was accompanied by his granddaughter Kai, along with administration officials including Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy, Doug Burgum, and personal adviser Boris Epshteyn.

Previous Instances of Trump Being Booed at Sporting Events

This event was not the first time Trump experienced boos at a major sports venue. The Associated Press noted that in late 2025, during the U.S. Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, Trump was booed when he briefly appeared from his suite before the match and during the national anthem. Reports indicated that Trump responded with a smirk that intensified the crowd’s reaction.

Since returning to the White House in January last year, Trump has attended numerous sports events including the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Daytona 500, NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia, UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, and the FIFA Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At these events, while some attendees cheered him, he was also booed on multiple occasions.