DJT at MSG: A Presidential Visit to the NBA Finals?
President Donald Trump might soon find himself among the fervent fans at Madison Square Garden, cheering for his hometown team, the New York Knicks, as they battle in the NBA Finals. The New York Times has reported that the 79-year-old president is contemplating a visit to the iconic venue for Games 3 and 4 of the championship series, set to take place on June 8 and June 10.
Throughout the past year, President Trump has become a familiar face at major sporting events, making appearances at the Daytona 500, the US Open, a Yankees game, and numerous UFC fights. Should he attend the NBA Finals, he would make history as the first sitting president to do so, adding another unique moment to his list of public appearances.
Originally, Trump had planned a surprise visit to Midtown Manhattan for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. However, those plans were upended when the Knicks decisively defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, sweeping the series in just four games. This unexpected victory fast-tracked their journey to the championship, leaving fans and officials alike in suspense about the president’s potential attendance.
While it remains uncertain which game at Madison Square Garden Trump will choose to attend, Knicks enthusiasts are eagerly preparing to witness their beloved team compete for a long-awaited victory. With ticket prices soaring into the thousands, passionate supporters are ready to see their team chase their first championship title in 53 years, adding an extra layer of excitement to this historic event.
It wasn’t immediately clear which game Trump would attend at the World’s Most Famous Arena, but die-hard Knicks fans will be shelling out thousands of dollars to watch their red-hot team vie for their first championship in 53 years.
Get-in prices for Games 3 and 4, as of Tuesday morning, are the highest in NBA history, according to TickPick. The cheapest ticket for Game 3 at the Garden costs $2,845 on the ticket-selling site.
Logistical details, including where Trump would watch the action and the extra safeguards needed to protect the president inside and outside of the World’s Most Famous Arena, were not immediately known.
Trump revealed recently that he is still a Knicks fan and is relationship with owner James Dolan.
“I am, I get along with Jim Dolan, I think he’s a really nice guy and he’s entitled to a good team because he’s suffered a little bit,” Trump told TalkRadio 77 WABC last week.
Thousands of Knicks fans swarmed the streets outside Madison Square Garden after every win, causing heightened police presence and several arrests.
Last September, Trump traveled to Queens to watch the US Open Men’s Final inside Arthur Ashe Stadium alongside his granddaughter Arabella, son-in-law Jared Kushner and members of his cabinet.
Days later, on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Trump returned to The Bronx where he cheered on the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in a luxury suite behind three panels of bulletproof glass.
NYC Mayor Mamdani, who has had a friendly relationship with Trump since their chummy Oval Office meeting in November, quietly attended the Knicks Game 2 victory over Cleveland.
Hizzonner later took a jab at the Cavaliers after the Knicks finished the sweep on the road.
“.@NYCSanitation I’d like to report a sweep,” Mamdani posted Monday night.
