by CHARLOTTE HAZARD | The National News Desk
Mon, June 8, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Stephen A. Smith speaks at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith said over the weekend that President Donald Trump attending the upcoming NBA finals game will ruin the vibe.
The New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening at Madison Square Garden.
_“Stephen A. Smith doesn’t want President Trump to show up to the Knicks game but has no problem with Commie Mamdani taking the city over,” a user on X wrote on the social media platform, X. “What a clown.”_
Smith responded by saying the user should “grow the hell up.”
_“Grow the Hell up! I have a problem with any politician — any politician — that shows up, causes delays and interferes with these watch parties buzzing all over NYC,” he wrote on X._
He said that New York City already has a vibe going [for the upcoming game.](https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/amtrak-police-tackle-and-arrest-suspect-after-penn-station-stabbing-injuring-5-president-donald-trump-zohran-mamdani-new-york-knicks-san-antonio-spurs-madison-square-garden-crime-train-station-violence#)
_“It’s not political. It’s about the @nyknicks and the vibe this city has going,” his post continued. “Anyone who messes with that needs to not show up. It’s not about politics. Take that b.s. take somewhere else. Not today. Not now!”_
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One watch party for Game 3 of the NBA finals outside of Madison Square Garden has already been canceled due to security [increasing for Trump attending.](https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/president-donald-trumps-attendance-prompts-cancellation-of-msg-madison-square-garden-watch-party-ahead-of-knicks-spurs-game-3-nba-finals-game-commissioner-jessica-tisch-secret-service-penn-station-stabbing#)
“With tonight’s presidential visit, there will be extra security measures in and around MSG that the NYPD and Secret Service have planned together,” NYPD News wrote on X.