President Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai Trump smiled as the crowd booed him during game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, June 8. The crowd booed when Trump appeared on the large screens during the National Anthem in Madison Square Garden.
Cell phone video shows Kai smiling as the crowd booed her granddad. Afterwards, Trump insisted he only heard cheers from the crowd. Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend the NBA Finals.
Knicks fans expressed frustration toward Trump for attending the finals. Ticket holders were forced to wait for hours to get into MSG while Secret Service agents secured the arena for Trump. The city cancelled watch parties outside the arena.
Sports journalist Stephen A. Smith said Trump had “no business” attending the NBA Finals. Smith said Trump’s attendance was “selfish” and “narcissistic.” “It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game,” Smith added.
“I don’t want him there,” Smith said on Monday before game 3. “It has nothing to do with politics, policy, or anything like that. It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to exist at Madison Square Garden.”
“If they lose tonight, I’m looking right at him,” Smith continued. “I’m saying it, it’s just me. I’m blaming him. I’m blaming the president of the United States of America if the New York Knicks lose this tonight.”
Stephen A. Smith says President Trump has no business attending the NBA finals ?
Credit: ESPN pic.twitter.com/raCDezu3nX
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 8, 2026
Trump responded to Smith’s comments after the Knicks lost game 3. “I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said of Smith, who has aspirations to become the next U.S. president. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Donald Trump gets booed at the NBA Finals in New York City.
(via ABC) pic.twitter.com/ryUdrY8Lw2
— Variety (@Variety) June 9, 2026