Among the high-profile attendees was President Donald Trump, whose presence sparked a mix of reactions in the arena. Ahead of tip-off, the Jumbotron displayed President Trump during the national anthem. The crowd reacted with boos as Trump offered a military salute.
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Trump watched the action from Knicks owner James Dolan’s private suite, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai, personal advisor Boris Epshteyn, and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum. Trump’s attendance made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump with his grand daughter Kai Trump (L), Knicks owner James Dolan (3L), US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (3R) and Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin (2R) attend Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026.
After a few chants of “USA, USA, USA” for the flag, Trump was booed loudly when he was shown on the large video screens during the national anthem.
(SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump with his grand daughter Kai Trump (L), Knicks owner James Dolan (3L), US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (3R) and Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin (2R) attend Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026.
After a few chants of “USA, USA, USA” for the flag, Trump was booed loudly when he was shown on the large video screens during the national anthem.
(SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump looks on prior to a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
U.S. President Donald Trump and his granddaughter Kai Trump attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., June 8, 2026.
(Nathan Howard, REUTERS)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump sits next to Knicks owner James Dolan as they attend Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026.
(SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump is seen on the jumbotron ahead of the start of Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026.
(SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
United States president Donald Trump looks on before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump looks on prior to a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
General view before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
(Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump waves to fans as he arrives at Madison Square Garden ahead of NBA Finals game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in New York, on June 8, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
The presidential convoy heads towards Madison Square Garden as US President Donald Trump attends Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, on June 8, 2026.
(SAUL LOEB, AFP via Getty Images)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
A member of the U.S. Navy and members of the U.S. Secret Service brace as Marine One, carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, lands at the Wall Street Landing Zone in Manhattan, en route to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA playoffs, in New York City on June 8, 2026.
(Nathan Howard, REUTERS)
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Crowd boos Trump during anthem at tense Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game
A helicopter carrying White House staff lands ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival at the Wall Street Landing Zone in Manhattan, en route to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA playoffs, New York City on June 8, 2026.
(Nathan Howard, REUTERS)
After the game, before boarding Air Force One to return to the White House, President Trump was asked about the crowd’s response.
“It was, I think, mostly cheers,” Trump said, offering his own interpretation of the mixed reception.
Security measures for Game 3 were at an all-time high due to the president’s attendance. According to the NYC Commissioner, a planned Game 3 watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled out of an abundance of caution. Fans entering the arena faced multiple checkpoints and were required to present tickets or passes and undergo airport-style screening with Transportation Security Administration magnetometers. Inside, Secret Service agents and NYPD officers were stationed throughout the venue.
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The NBA Finals series, with the Knicks currently leading 2-1, continues at MSG for Game 4 on Wednesday, and eyes now turn to Game 4 at the Garden before the series shifts back to San Antonio, the lingering question is whether Trump will make a return appearance.
More: Spurs trump Knicks at MSG to get first win of NBA Finals: Game 3 takeaways
Will President Trump be at NBA Finals Game 4?
There has been no official word on Trump’s status for Game 4 at this point, but signs are pointing toward no.
ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Trump is not expected to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
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The president did suggest last week that he could do both Game 3 and Game 4, but he also made reference to being busy with other things, “like a war.” Additionally, the fact that the New York Police Department said it expects city watch parties to return for Game 4 would indicate Trump would might not attend.
