President Attends NBA Finals
President Trump Returns to New York City to Attend NBA Finals Game 3, First Visit Since 2000
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President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8 at Madison Square Garden, making him the first sitting U.S. president ever to attend an NBA Finals game in person, according to AP. The New York Knicks, up 2-0 over the San Antonio Spurs, are chasing their first championship since 1973 — a 53-year drought.
Trump, a lifelong Knicks fan who grew up in New York, was personally invited by Knicks owner James Dolan to sit in the owner's box, CBS News reported. The visit marks his most significant return to New York City since he moved his primary residence to Mar-a-Lago in Florida in September 2019.
Knicks Chase First Title in 53 Years
The Knicks beat the Spurs 105–95 in Game 1 and 105–104 in Game 2, both in San Antonio, according to The Guardian. They arrive at MSG with an 11-game playoff winning streak and a 2-0 series lead. The last time New York won the title, Trump was 26 years old and just starting out in his father's real estate business.
Game 3 tips off at 8:30 PM ET. The cheapest resale ticket was listed at $9,995 as of June 6, according to Forbes. Tickets for Game 4 were already asking $12,846. The high prices reflect both the Knicks' historic run and the draw of a presidential appearance.
First Sitting President at an NBA Finals
While presidents have attended the Super Bowl and World Series, none had ever watched an NBA Finals game in person — until now, NBC Sports reported. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended the visit, saying sports can "emphasize what we have in common." Trump first signaled his plans on May 27, telling C-SPAN, "I think I'll be going."
The White House officially confirmed the trip on June 4, the day after Game 1. Trump watched that game from the White House and later praised the Knicks' defense against star Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, according to AP.
Security Turns MSG Into a Checkpoint Zone
The Knicks and Secret Service rolled out a strict no-bag policy and TSA-style screenings for Game 3, according to CBS News. Fans are advised to arrive at least two hours early. Penn Station, which sits directly below MSG and serves NJ Transit, the LIRR, and Amtrak, is expected to face major delays.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed he will attend Game 3 but said he would be sitting in a "very different section" from the president, according to the NY Post. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the visit, saying it highlights an administration focused on "the rich and shameless," Forbes reported.
A Political Test in a Deep-Blue City
New York is one of the most Democratic cities in the country, and Trump lost it by wide margins in both 2020 and 2024. With midterm elections coming in November 2026, the high-profile visit is seen as a test of his standing in a city where he was born but is rarely welcomed politically, according to Forbes.
Still, the pull of the Knicks cuts across political lines. Supporters frame the trip as a hometown hero returning to "the World's Most Famous Arena" at a historic moment. Critics say everyday New Yorkers — priced out at $10,000 a ticket — "can only watch on television," as Al Sharpton put it on MSNBC.
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