President Donald Trump reposted a video online that claims “NYC loves” him — hours after he was subject to intense booing during the Knicks game.
The clip, shared on Truth Social just after 2 a.m. Tuesday, following the New York Knicks’ devastating loss to the San Antonio Spurs, showed crowds watching on as the presidential motorcade drove past on 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, headed for Madison Square Garden.
Some onlookers cheered while others booed as the president drove past. The clip shows several people appearing to chant “Trump, Trump, Trump,” while other chants were unintelligible.
At least one person can be heard in the clip Trump shared singing “Donald Trump is coming to town,” to the tune of “Santa Claus is coming to town.”
Despite Trump’s claims that New York “loves” him — that wasn’t so apparent during the game Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The crowd loudly booed the president as he appeared on the Jumbotron during the national anthem.
The president took in the game from a private box and seemed unfazed by the boos, which at points drowned out the anthem being sung by Broadway performer Avery Wilson.
Basketball fans were also captured jeering at Trump at watch parties around the city, including at Bryant Park. The boos also continued on 34th Street as Trump’s motorcade drove away after the Knicks’ loss, videos shared on X showed.
After leaving the game, Trump was asked about the reception he received from Knicks fans.
“I thought great, I mean, I thought it was amazing, actually. You mean, when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good. It was certainly amazing. I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic,” Trump told reporters outside Air Force One Monday night.
Knicks fans online had a vastly different reaction.
“They booed louder for Trump than they did for the Spurs you gotta respect it,” one X user wrote. Another commented: “They thought people wouldn’t boo if they showed him during the national anthem.”
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump was joined by family, friends and White House staff at the historic game, where the Spurs beat back a mid-game surge from the Knicks to win with a final score of 115 to 111.
He was seated alongside his granddaughter, Kai Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, as well as Knicks owner James Dolan. NBA commissioner Adam Silver also reportedly dropped in to speak with Trump during the game.
Trump faced even further mockery online after he appeared to fall asleep during the game.
Fans with tickets to the big Game 3 event were forced to begin lining up outside the Garden hours before tip-off on Monday, thanks to added security implemented due to Trump’s attendance.
Fans faced heavy screening, a no-bag policy, and a line of fences and police officers that walled off the area surrounding the arena.
The area getting blocked off to fans also meant no watch parties outside the Garden — and typically packed sports bars surrounding the venue saw far fewer patrons.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Trump for attending the game, saying: “Sometimes you decide not to go to things so that other people can enjoy it.”
More details here...
