President Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, while offering little compassion for basketball fans unable to afford the expensive ticket prices to see the game in person.
Speaking to reporters while traveling on Air Force One to Wisconsin for a farming event, Trump addressed questions about ticket costs that have soared to $8,000 per seat for the matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in Manhattan.
“They can watch it on television,” Trump responded when asked about the high prices. “It’s sorta semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes.”
The president also mentioned that if the Knicks weren’t performing well — noting their lack of success since their last finals appearance in 1994 — “you could go very easily.”
As president, Trump doesn’t need to buy tickets for major sporting events. During his second term, he has attended numerous high-profile games, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup.
However, his comments come as he faces growing scrutiny over campaign promises to reduce inflation and lower costs for everyday necessities like groceries. With November midterm elections approaching and ongoing conflict in Iran driving up gas prices and destabilizing global markets, concerns about inflation and economic stability continue to mount.
Trump, a long-time Knicks supporter, revealed he watched Game 1, which New York won 105-95 in San Antonio. “I think the Knicks have an amazing team the way they played,” he commented.
“Started off slow and it just got stronger and stronger,” Trump said about the opening game. When asked about his preferred players, he highlighted Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Reporters also questioned Trump about Spurs player Victor Wembanyama’s decision to stand with crossed arms during the national anthem before Game 1. The gesture sparked controversy among conservatives online, despite Wembanyama being French and not hearing his own country’s anthem.
While praising Wembanyama as someone who “looks like he’s gonna be a great player,” Trump avoided commenting on the anthem situation, claiming he hadn’t witnessed the crossed-arms gesture.
“Is that what he did? What did he mean by that?” Trump responded, directing reporters to ask Wembanyama directly for clarification.
Trump’s confirmation of his Game 3 attendance follows comments from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday, who suggested a presidential presence at finals games could help unite “our increasingly divided society.”
“It creates a sense of connectivity among people,” Silver explained. “It creates a sense of belonging, and I feel that every day.”
