Whoopi Goldberg surprised The View table with a very rare defense of Donald Trump, and her reasoning came down to something very New York: the Knicks.
During the Monday, June 8 episode of The View, Goldberg weighed in on Trump's planned appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks were set to face the San Antonio Spurs.
The topic came up after Trump's expected attendance sparked debate over security, politics, and whether his presence would distract from the Knicks' long-awaited return to the Finals.
Goldberg argued that Trump should be allowed to attend because he is a New Yorker and a Knicks fan. The comment stood out because Goldberg has frequently criticized Trump on The View, but this time, she appeared to put politics aside for basketball.
Why Whoopi Goldberg's Knicks Take Got a Reaction
Photo by Arturo Holmes on Getty Images
Just last week, the Sister Act star walked onto The View stage holding a broom after the Knicks swept their way into the NBA Finals. Entertainment Weekly reported that Goldberg opened the show while sweeping the stage, telling viewers, "I just wanted to finish sweeping this up right here."
The moment celebrated a historic Knicks run and showed how invested Goldberg has been in the team's postseason success.
Trump, like Goldberg, has a long public history of attending Knicks games at Madison Square Garden.
Trump Is Expected at the NBA Finals
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while aboard Air Force One en route to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin on June 5, 2026. President Trump is traveling to an event at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Trump said last week that he planned to attend the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan.
"I've been a Knick fan for a long time," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, according to PBS. "I watched that end of the game and they were dominant — really amazing."
The NBA believes Trump would be the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, according to The Guardian. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he was "thrilled" that Trump planned to attend and described him as a longtime Knicks fan.
"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days."
"We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart," Silver said. "We're seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I'm thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."
Related: Why Joy Behar Is Suddenly Missing From ‘The View'
Trump's planned appearance has not been without controversy.
His attendance is expected to enhance security at Madison Square Garden, including airport-style screening and an advisory for fans to arrive at least 2 hours before tipoff.
Some Knicks fans and public figures have criticized the visit due to logistical complications.
The Guardian also reported that enhanced security concerns led to the cancellation of a planned outdoor watch party near Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3.
Still, others have treated the moment as part of the city's larger Knicks excitement. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected to attend the game, though he joked that he would be seated in "a very different section" from Trump.
Why This Is Bigger Than Politics for Whoopi
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025, in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)Al Bello/Getty Images
The team's return to the NBA Finals is historic for New York, with the Knicks playing for their first championship since 1973. Their run has also turned The View into an occasional basketball celebration, especially when Goldberg and co-host Sara Haines marked the sweep on air.
In a city where basketball can temporarily unite people who disagree on almost everything else, Goldberg's position was unexpectedly simple: let the Knicks fans be Knicks fans.
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