WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, President Trump expressed confidence in the New York Knicks’ readiness to bounce back against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He also echoed fans’ frustration over the lack of a foul call on the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, who appeared to shove Knicks star Jalen Brunson in the head during Game 3.
“I believe it was a poor decision, definitely. Personally, I thought it was a bad call. But I’m not the referee, you know?” Trump remarked during a phone interview with The Post.
Stay updated with The Post’s live coverage of President Trump and national politics for the latest news and insights.
At 79, Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, witnessing the Spurs edge out his hometown Knicks, 115-111, from the luxury box of Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan.
The defining moment of the match was Wembanyama’s forceful shove on Brunson, who was trying to set a screen against the towering 7-foot-4 French player. Despite the incident, officials did not call a foul, nor did they later elevate the infraction to a flagrant foul against the Spurs’ standout player.
No foul was called on the play and league officials opted against retroactively upgrading the penalty to a flagrant foul on the Spurs star.
The Knicks still lead the best-of-seven series two games to one.
“Look, they’re pretty evenly matched, right? It’s two great teams. I’ll tell you, that Brunson is some player,” Trump said ahead of Game 4.
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
“I think Brunson is amazing, [Stephon] Castle [of the Spurs] is amazing, Wemby is amazing, [Karl-Anthony] Towns [of the Knicks] is amazing. They’re like great players. That’s why they’re there, right?” he went on.
The Knicks, in their first Finals appearance since 1999, are two wins from clinching their first NBA championship since 1973.
“If you grow up in New York, you’re a Knick fan,” explained Trump, who frequented the Garden’s Celebrity Row before entering politics, “and I, you know, happen to think the owner’s terrific. In fact, I’ll write him up.”
Trump then instructed an aide to send a note to Dolan, reading: “Jim, good luck tonight. I’ll be rooting for you all the way. The team is ready.”
