Madison Square Garden Mayhem: NBA Fans Face Security Gridlock During Trump’s Anticipated Visit

Enthusiastic supporters who invested substantial sums to witness the New York Knicks compete in the NBA Finals encountered the disheartening possibility of missing the game’s start, all due to heightened security measures for President Trump’s visit.

As President Trump made his way to Madison Square Garden for one of the most eagerly awaited events in New York’s sports history, those left outside grew increasingly impatient. Reports surfaced that some attendees were informed by police that they were unclear on the procedures required for Trump’s presence.

Queues extended at least four blocks away from the arena, with metal detectors positioned 200 feet from the entrance, scrutinized by the Secret Service. Protestors of the President also assembled nearby, escalating the tension outside as the game’s commencement approached.

Ticket holders faced additional restrictions, such as being barred from bringing bags. As fans anxiously awaited entry, President Trump’s helicopter touched down near Wall Street, with his motorcade ready to transport him to the iconic Manhattan location. Upon arrival, Trump greeted the crowd, many of whom had waited 27 years for the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals, only to endure a bit more waiting due to the presidential presence.

Currently leading the series against the San Antonio Spurs 2-0, the Knicks have sparked a frenzy of excitement throughout New York City ahead of Game 3, the first in Manhattan. Fans across the city are eager for the team to secure their first championship of the century, hoping to end a championship drought that has lasted over five decades.

New York Knicks fans lined up around Madison Square Garden before the NBA Finals

Fans lucky enough to have a ticket suddenly faced the prospect of missing the start

President Trump pictured in the Beast as he made his way towards Madison Square Garden

He waved to supporters who filmed him making his way through Manhattan and to the game

The Knicks last made the NBA Finals in 1999 and have not won one since 1973. As the home team ran out onto the court to warm up, the arena exploded with noise with the vast majority of fans inside the building with around 10 minutes to go before the start.

Yet with history beckoning, Trump’s decision to attend has turned the excitement into anxiety during the buildup for those lucky enough to have gotten their hands on the hottest ticket in town.

Trump has attended multiple high-profile sporting events in his second term in office. 

He became the first sitting President to attend a Super Bowl when he made it to the showpiece game in February 2025 in New Orleans, watching the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fans faced similar issues to the Knicks followers when he attended the men’s US Open final last year, too. Trump has also appeared at the Ryder Cup, a New York Yankees game on the anniversary of 9/11 and other NFL games.

But NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome at the game, despite the issues it was causing the Knicks fans

‘I found out (Trump was going) because Jim Dolan (the New York Knicks owner) invited him to the game and he said yes,’ Silver said on ESPN. ‘He is welcome to be here. 

‘What I will say about President Trump is that he was a fixture at NBA, Madison Square Garden (in the past). A genuine Knicks fan. Yes, some inconvenience to fans but if you look around the area, it is getting packed. People listened and got here early. We should be using sports to create more of a sense of community.’

Protestors gathered outside of MSG before Trump had arrived to watch the game 

As chaos emerged around MSG, Trump’s helicopter touched down near Wall Street 

The calm before the storm inside MSG as fans desperately waited to make it inside 

Knicks fans are desperately hoping their team wins their first championship since 1973

The Knicks ticket prices rocketed in price after the Knicks stormed into a 2-0 lead from the first two games in San Antonio – fans were splahing out over $10,000 for the cheapest seats in the world famous venue. 

Trump will be one of many famous faces inside the venue for Game 3. Knicks superfans and Hollywood stars Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller are expected to be sitting courtside. 

Others, including Larry David and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, had made it into the building in good time. The mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, has said he will be there too. 

Trump’s attendance was slammed on Monday by ESPN’s increasingly political analyst Stephen A. Smith, who called him ‘narcissistic’ for his move.

‘This president has no business showing up in New York City. I am dead serious. It is selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous that he is coming to this game,’ Smith said on First Take.

‘I would say the same thing if it were Obama, George W., Clinton. I don’t give a damn, we went back to Reagan.

‘This is not a football stadium in some space in Texas where you got a whole bunch of outlays and all of this. 

Tickets had been changing hands for over $10,000 before the game on Monday night 

‘This is the Garden. This is Midtown Manhattan. You have any idea what the congestion is going to be like in New York City here?

‘I get off my radio show at 3 o’clock. I’ve been instructed that I got to go straight to the Garden for an 8:30 game. Because that’s how bad traffic is going to be.’

Smith continued his rant against the President’s decision by saying that if the Knicks lose tonight and break their 13-game winning streak, that Trump is the one to blame.

‘Anything that disrupts it, if it causes the New York Knicks to lose, I’m blaming him. I’m blaming the president of the United States. I’mma stay on that. I’mma stay on that.’

Game 4, which Trump is not attending, is held on Wednesday night and if the Knicks win on Monday, they will be playing for the championship.