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Donald Trump loudly booed after ruining NBA Finals days before World Cup starts

President Donald Trump received a clear response to his NBA Finals appearance as the USA finalise preparations for the 2026 World Cup

[U.S. President Donald Trump was heavily booed when he appeared on the big screen at the NBA Finals]

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U.S. President Donald Trump was heavily booed when he appeared on the big screen at the NBA Finals(Image: (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images))

Just days before the 2026 World Cup, U.S. President Donald Trump was mercilessly booed as he made an appearance at game three of the NBA Finals on Monday night. Trump showed up to Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks' first home NBA Finals fixture in 27 years, as they welcomed the San Antonio Spurs while holding a 2-0 lead in the series.

The president confirmed his intentions last week, disclosing that he had been invited to the match by Knicks owner James Dolan. Trump's presence had a profound impact on the occasion, with supporters subjected to advanced security checks carried out by Secret Service agents on their way to the stands.

A sizeable security barrier was also constructed around the Garden, alongside vehicular and pedestrian road closures covering a 10-block radius around MSG coming into force at 4 p.m. ET - roughly four-and-a-half hours before tip-off.

On top of that, Knicks supporters were unable to organise a watch party outside the arena. Numerous public figures urged Trump to scrap his plans to attend the game and lambasted the president for "ruining" what is arguably New York City's most significant sporting occasion in almost three decades.

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NBA fans made their displeasure abundantly clear as Trump appeared on the Jumbotron, with thunderous boos echoing around the MSG stands as the president saluted during the national anthem.

Several hours earlier, Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox acknowledged that the president's NBA Finals visit had made things "inconvenient" for all those involved. "I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient on everybody else," Fox said. "We've got more, obviously, more security. We've got to send stuff early. I think our buses are a little earlier, so that's that.

"Other than that, when you come here and you play against this team, regardless of if they're good or when they're not, it's going to be a building that comes ready to support the team."

Fox revealed that players were also put through additional security checks. "Yeah, we're like, the less stuff you can bring, the better," Fox said.

[US President Donald Trump salutes the national anthem]

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The presence of US President Donald Trump impacted the players featuring in the NBA Finals

"Obviously, we're getting screened like it's TSA. It's a little inconvenient for the people that's got to play, but that's what it is."

Trump has made history as the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals match. Earlier in the series, the president heaped praise on New York's remarkable playoff campaign, while acknowledging his longstanding support for the Knicks.

"Well, I've been a Knicks fan for a long time, and I'm also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump said last week. "He's a nice guy, okay? He's been a long time wanting to win, and he's a competitive guy, and he's got a team that's amazing."

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Trump could face a similar reaction over the coming weeks at any World Cup matches he attends. There has already been some controversy ahead of the tournament starting with FIFA referee Omar Artan denied access to the US.

The opening game takes place outside of the US as Mexico take on South Africa on Thursday, June 11th. Mauricio Pochettino's side meanwhile, open their campaign this weekend against Paraguay.

The final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19 with Trump expected to be in attendance.

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