President Donald Trump was booed, loudly and at length, when he appeared on the Jumbotron during the national anthem before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
The arena had been chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as Avery Wilson began to sing The Star Spangled Banner. The Trump’s face appeared on the screen for the first time since he had entered the arena, saluting the flag and the arena erupted in boos.
Advertisement
While the booing was clear on the ABC broadcast, people inside the arena also posted videos capturing the booing.
The Athletic’s Esfandiar Baraheni recorded the moment it turned.
The White House press pool put it plainly: “loud and long.” The crowd didn’t let up until the camera moved and found Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
New York Post editor Mark Hale caught the booing from a side angle.
WFAN host Evan Roberts also caught the reaction to the president from his seats.
Fans caught the booing as well.
One reporter said the booing for Trump was worse than the boos for the San Antonio Spurs.
Even outside the arena, Trump was booed. The watch party at Bryant Park was loud too.
Trump wasn’t rattled, at least not publicly. Boarding Air Force One after the game, the president told reporters, “I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud. And it was enthusiastic.”
He attended as the guest of Knicks owner James Dolan and became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. The Knicks lost 115-111. They lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is on Wednesday at MSG, ESPN reported that Trump will not attend.
Advertisement
Joining Trump in the suite were White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, EP Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump. Also in the suite was Envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of White House Oval Office operations Walt Nauta, longtime Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, and executive assistant to the president Natalie Harp.
CNN reported that his son-in-law Jared Kuschner was also in the suite.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump booed at NBA Finals in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden
