United States President Donald Trump was met with loud boos during the playing of the US national anthem at Madison Square Garden on the night of June 8. The incident occurred as Trump was shown on the jumbo screens ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Initially, the crowd chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” but quickly changed to deafening jeers when Trump appeared. The president was seen smiling and holding a salute amid the booing.
Speaking to reporters before departing from JFK airport in New York, Trump claimed, “It was, I think, mostly cheers. It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.”
Errol Ismail, a Brooklyn resident and owner of a fitness company, expressed his displeasure, saying, “I wish he wasn’t here. He’s not a real fan, and he’s just making things awful. We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.”
Videos of the event circulated widely on social media, capturing the intensity of the booing. One clip showed Trump being booed so loudly that his speech was inaudible. Another video highlighted the moment the boos grew even louder, causing Trump to stop clapping.
