Trump Is Heading to Madison Square Garden

President Trump is headed back to Madison Square Garden—this time for the NBA Finals, ESPN reports. The president said Thursday he has accepted New York Knicks owner James Dolan's invitation to attend Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs in New York, adding he might also show up for Game 4. Trump praised the Knicks' postseason run and said of Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, "He's going to be a great player. He's already a great player." New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani will also be there Monday; his office says he's paying his own way. Trump will be there as Dolan's guest.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's "thrilled" Trump wants to come, and framed his visit as a chance to highlight shared excitement around the Knicks' first Finals appearance since 1999 and pursuit of their first title since 1973. Trump, a longtime Knicks fan, used to attend drafts at MSG and even once appeared in an NBA "I love this game" spot filmed there. Silver noted it will be the first time, during his tenure, that a sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game; security will be tightened for the visit. Silver said fans are sure to understand the ensuing logistical challenges that could ensue for those attending the game, the Guardian reports. Per the New York Times, the last time any sitting president attended an NBA game was 2015, when Barack Obama was in the stands.