Commentators and fans blamed President Donald Trump (R-FL) for the New York Knicks' loss in Game 3 [2] of the NBA Finals.
The reaction highlights the intersection of sports and political polarization, where a high-profile figure's presence is credited or blamed for athletic outcomes.
The game took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City in June 2024 [3, 5]. Following the defeat, some observers suggested that Trump's attendance brought a negative energy to the arena. Cardi B said the presence of the former president brought "dark energy" to the game [3]. Other fans accused Trump of jinxing the team, suggesting his presence created a "curse" that impacted the players' performance [5].
This loss was particularly notable as it marked the first time the Knicks had lost a game since April [6].
Not everyone agreed with the notion that a spectator could influence the result. Whoopi Goldberg said her audience should not blame Trump for the loss [1, 2]. However, other commentators on the same program said he brought "bad juju" to the event [1, 2].
The debate over the "Trump curse" mirrored previous instances where the former president's appearances at sporting events sparked similar discussions among fans and media personalities [5]. While the Knicks' loss was a matter of athletic performance, the social media discourse focused on the perceived spiritual or energetic impact of the guest list at Madison Square Garden [4, 6].
“Trump’s attendance brought 'dark energy' to the game.”
The controversy illustrates how political figures can become focal points for superstition in sports. By attributing a professional athletic loss to the 'energy' of a spectator, critics and fans project political animosity onto the game, turning a sports result into a proxy for political debate.
