Crowds at major US sporting events – usually comprised of men aged 18-49 – match up nicely with Donald Trump’s core voting bloc.
These are often many of the people who propelled Trump into the White House twice. But his popularity seems to be dropping with this demographic.
This was on display on Tuesday in Trump’s home town of New York City, when the president was heavily booed when he was shown on the big screen during the national anthem while attending game three of the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
Trump, shown on camera during the national anthem, is booed loudly at MSG pic.twitter.com/NkWE4xsE2Z
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 9, 2026Trump criticised for not ‘staying at home’
Trump’s attendance on Tuesday made him the first sitting US president to attend an NBA finals game. Ticketholders were forced to wait in lines more than two blocks long in a strict, airport-style gauntlet of security measures.
Commuters and tourists navigated a maze of black metal fencing surrounding the venue, where pedestrian traffic was restricted, with police saying those without an “authorised reason” would not be admitted.
While a handful of fans welcomed the president’s attendance, many long-suffering Knicks fans, whose team hasn’t won an NBA title since 1973, said the added security was a frustration.
Of all the selfish, narcissistic things Trump has done, attending MSG to see the Knicks play in person Monday night is the absolute worst. 20,000 attendees will be MASSIVELY inconvenienced for all the extra security, the Knicks Watch Party at Garden Is canceled, thousands of… pic.twitter.com/oQyVbvRQRn
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) June 8, 2026“I wish he wasn’t here. He’s not a real fan, and he’s just making things awful,” said local resident Errol Ismail, who tried multiple entrances to get into the venue. “We’ve waited a lifetime for this, and he’s made it about himself, like everything else.”
Trump even copped heavy criticism on X from conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who called his attendance “selfish” and “narcissistic.”
“Thousands of extra law enforcement officers will be required (paid for by taxpayers), traffic will be a disaster — all so he can sit in the Garden rather than watch the game on TV. Presidents ought to be willing to sacrifice once in a while,” Coulter wrote.
Trump and the NBA have an uneasy relationship. He has been a vocal critic of players’ activism, accusing the league of becoming a “political organisation” as many players protested racial injustice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
US President Donald Trump on stage with Chelsea after last year’s Club World Cup. (Picture: Getty)How Trump could impact the World Cup
Last year, Fifa held the Club World Cup in the United States, ahead of the World Cup. It was an event heavily pushed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Chelsea came away with the win in the final over Paris Saint Germain, but their victory celebrations were memorable for Trump coming up onto the dais and celebrating with confused players.
The US president has put his fingerprints all over the World Cup which starts this week – with Fifa even inventing a peace prize to give to him.
There remains major anxiety about how the policies of his administration will impact the World Cup.
Last year, Infantino said the tournament would be a glorious melting pot of different peoples treated well, speaking out against “misconception” and reinforcing that “everyone will be welcome.”
Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup. (Picture: Kenzo Triboulliard/AFP via Getty Images)However, US officials denied entry over the weekend to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first official from that country to handle a World Cup match.
Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
A Fifa spokesperson says Artan will now not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.
“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the spokesperson said.
Immigration is a big concern ahead of this World Cup, with overseas ticket sales down and some calling for a boycott over human rights concerns.
Where else have crowds at sporting events booed Donald Trump?
Last year, Trump was loudly booed at the US Open men’s tennis final in New York, where many ticketholders missed the start of the match when security checks related to his attendance caused confusion and slowed entry.
He also got a hostile reception at an American football game in Washington DC that year.
And in 2019, he took First Lady Melania Trump to the World Series of baseball – the sport’s pinnacle – where the crowd booed and chanted “lock him up!”. It was a play on the slogan he had used against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign.
On that occasion, it was the same night as he announced the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Equipment being placed on the South Lawn of the White House ahead of the UFC fight next Monday. (Picture: Mark Schiefelbein/AP)Does Trump receive a positive reception at any sporting events?
Trump is a huge fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – and they are huge fans of him.
UFC boss Dana White has spoken at every Republican party convention that Trump has been the nominee, and now we are about to reach the apex of the relationship between the two men.
Next Monday, there will be a controversial UFC card held on the front lawn of the White House, with the octagon cage currently being constructed in preperation.
Trump has confirmed that fighters will begin their walk to the octagon from the Oval Office.
“We’re having a big fight. It’s never going to happen again, never happened before,” Trump said last month.
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