A lipreader has claimed that President Donald Trump is considering returning to New York to present the Knicks with the NBA championship trophy, should they be victorious in the NBA finals, according to a report.
Forensic lip-reading expert NJ Hickling claims Trump mentioned crowning the Knicks champions should they win after reviewing footage of the president talking with Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan during Monday’s Game 3, which saw the Knicks succumb to the San Antonio Spurs after a 13-game winning streak.
The pair appeared to be discussing an unknown person that Dolan — who owns the Knicks —seemed to have an issue with, before Trump suggested that he could solve their issues if he returned for Game 4, Hickling told the Daily Mail.
“Why wouldn’t you accept our friendship, he’s loyal,” Trump apparently told Dolan, who replied: “I’m pissed off at his name.” The pair went back and forth on the issue before Dolan reportedly told Trump: “Anything for you,” according to the lipreader.
Trump later told Dolan, “If you want me to come to the game on Wednesday, then he’s gotta be here. You gotta remember, I gotta pull with this. Maybe I could do the trophy, the trophy. This should be gold, don’t say no today. I’ll bet you a round of golf,” the lipreader claimed.
Since the Spurs won 115-111 on Monday, the series will go to at least Game 5, which will take place in San Antonio Saturday night. Should a Game 6 be needed, the Knicks will be back in New York next Tuesday, and if it goes to Game 7, that will be in Texas on June 17.
The president has not publicly commented on whether he would attend Wednesday’s game or a potential Game 6 in the series. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump, who was invited to the game by Dolan and sat with him in his box, was met with booing when he was shown on the Jumbotron in the arena during the national anthem.
His return would likely cause more upset for New Yorkers and Knicks fans, who saw a popular watch party outside of Madison Square Garden canceled due to heightened security.
A strict security perimeter was also installed surrounding the Garden, which kept fans from enjoying the game at some local sports bars, and forced fans lucky enough to have tickets to the event to wait in lengthy security lines.
While some fans blamed a “Trump Curse” for the devastating loss, the president seemed unfazed by the booing and negative response to his attendance.
In a Truth Social post after leaving the game, he shared a video online that claims “NYC loves” him, and showed onlookers cheering — and booing — as his presidential motorcade drove down 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan on its way to the venue.
Trump was also asked by reporters 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.
While attending with Dolan, Trump was joined by some family and White House staff, including his granddaughter, Kai Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver also reportedly dropped by the box to speak with Trump during the game.
Silver told ESPN before Game 3 that Trump was a welcomed guest at the Garden.
“What I will say about President Trump is that he was a fixture at the NBA, Madison Square Garden. A genuine Knicks fan,” Silver said.
“Yes, some inconvenience to fans, but if you look around the arena, it is getting packed. People listened and got here early. We should be using sports to create more of a sense of community.”
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