Trump visit locks down midtown Manhattan, scrambling Knicks game
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Members of the U.S. Secret Service walk the perimeter of a security fence outside of Madison Square Garden. Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images.
President Trump's plan to attend Monday's NBA Finals game to support the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden triggered amped-up security measures, canceled watch parties and is expected to turn city traffic into an absolute zoo.
Why it matters: No sitting president has ever attended the Finals — and critics on both the right and the left say his appearance has dampened fans' excitement and inconvenienced the city at large.
Driving the news: The NYPD is implementing a "secure area" to ensure Trump's safety.
- The department will section off several streets around the arena and add "extra security measures" around Madison Square Garden in coordination with the Secret Service.
- The secure area includes Penn Station, which an estimated 600,000 people travel through every day.
- Police will bar pedestrian and vehicular traffic for non-ticket holders, pushing out locals unless they can prove they have an appointment with a nearby business.
- Organizers also canceled a planned watch party at the Garden, locking out fans who couldn't score tickets that were reportedly going for $8,000 on average on some resale markets.
What they're saying: Ann Coulter, the conservative activist, posted on X that Trump attending the game is the most "selfish, narcissistic" thing he has done.
- "Presidents ought to be willing to sacrifice once in awhile," she quipped.
- Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith said Monday that Trump has "no business" showing up, and also called it "selfish," "narcissistic," and "ridiculous."
The other side: "Sports are at the forefront of American culture, and President Trump loves them as the people's president," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said.
- "As a lifelong fan, President Trump looks forward to watching the Knicks compete to bring home their first NBA championship in more than 50 years at Madison Square Garden tonight," she added.
- "U.S. Secret Service and NYPD's important efforts will ensure this historic game is safe for all attendees."
State of play: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani paid $1,000 for a standing-room-only ticket so that he could attend with a "few friends."
- He added an additional watch party to accommodate the security disruptions that saw one event canceled.
What we're watching: Critics have suggested fans should boo Trump when the jumbotron inevitably focuses on him — we'll see whether NYC fans are just as raucous as Philly's.
Go deeper: Spurs' global fanbase rallies around NBA Finals - Axios San Antonio
Editor's note: This article has been updated with White House comment and more details of preparations for the event.
