Fox News host Jesse Watters on Tuesday decried the fact that President Donald Trump was heavily booed during Monday’s NBA Finals game, claiming the reaction at Madison Square Garden was “mixed” and attempting to slam Democrats over their inclusive politics.
“It was a great game,” Watters said Tuesday. “And Trump didn’t lose it for them. It was obviously the refs, because the league wants this thing to go seven for financial reasons. … Trump, the reaction was mixed. I would say it was passionate. I did hear some boos.”
He continued, “But I mean, it’s an NBA game. That’s the fanbase. It’s like if [former Vice President] Kamala [Harris] went to a Dallas Cowboys game, how would that sound? At least he goes to games. Democrats don’t even go to games. They go to pride parades.”
The “Five” co-host was presumably unaware that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose successful Democratic campaign centered on affordability for all residents, attended both the city’s Pride March last year and Monday’s game.
The New York Knicks were on a historic 13-game playoff winning streak and had galvanized the city into raucous anticipation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday, only for the San Antonio Spurs to win in an upset that many people have blamed on Trump’s attendance.
Regardless of the cause of the loss, Trump’s presence did create commotion on and off the court, as no sitting president has ever attended an NBA Finals game — and Trump was booed both during his arrival and inside the arena.
Critics on social media were confounded by Watters claiming the reactions were “mixed.”
“Once again telling guys not to believe what our eyes see and our ears hear,” wrote one user on X, with another person commenting: “Watters falling all over himself to protect the orange blob. If the man had an original thought his head would blow up.”
Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press
The president’s attendance required additional security measures at Madison Square Garden, with fans being asked to arrive two hours early to go through “TSA-style security,” according to a statement from the Knicks on Saturday. It also led to the cancellation of a free watch party that had been planned outside the arena.
Many political and sports pundits preemptively blamed Trump for a potential Knicks loss, which ultimately came true when the Spurs landed a 115-111 upset. The New York City team still has a chance of victory in the series, and Game 4 is set for Wednesday night. The Knicks currently lead the seven-game series, 2-1.
Watters has never let facts get in the way of hyperbole, and his claim that the reaction to Trump was “mixed” on Monday certainly isn’t out of character. He previously praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for its “amazing” facilities — and “free healthcare.”
