President Donald Trump was booed by the crowd during the playing of the U.S. national anthem on June 9, 2026 [2].
The incident highlights the deep political divisions remaining within the U.S. public, as a high-profile sporting event became a venue for political protest.
The event took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City [1]. The crowd reacted with boos as the anthem began before the start of Game 3 [1] of the series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs [1].
Reports indicate that the attendees used the moment to express political opposition to the president [4]. While some sources describe the event as part of the NBA Finals [2], other reports identify it specifically as Game 3 [1] of the series.
Trump attended the game as a guest of James Dolan [5]. Some reports suggest that Trump was the first sitting president to attend the NBA Finals while in office [5], though this detail is not corroborated across all primary reports.
The atmosphere at the arena remained tense as the game proceeded. The reaction from the crowd was captured in video footage and reported by multiple news outlets documenting the protest during the pre-game ceremonies [1, 3].
“President Donald Trump was booed by the crowd during the playing of the U.S. national anthem”
The booing of a sitting president during the national anthem at a major sporting event reflects a trend of utilizing public arenas for political expression. This specific incident underscores the volatility of public sentiment in New York City and the intersection of professional sports and national political tension.
