President Donald Trump appears unlikely to attend Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio.
President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the possibility of attending another NBA Finals game after his much-discussed appearance at Game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Asked whether he could travel to San Antonio for a later game in the series, Trump suggested that other matters were currently taking priority.
"We're busy with a lot of important stuff right now," EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said.
"Like a war," Trump added, making it appear unlikely that he will attend Game 5 in San Antonio.
Heavy security surrounded Trump's arrival
Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden roughly an hour before the 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off, accompanied by his granddaughter and multiple cabinet members.
His presence led to a much tighter security setup around the arena, with authorities and the Knicks introducing additional safety procedures for the night.
The measures affected both fans and media members. Official watch parties for Knicks supporters were not held, while those entering the arena had to follow a strict no-bag rule and pass through detailed TSA-style checks.
The added restrictions frustrated many fans, who complained about long inspections and the inconvenience caused before entering the game.
Madison Square Garden crowd boos Trump
Trump also received a loud reaction from the Madison Square Garden crowd before the game began.
When he appeared on the arena's video board during the U.S. national anthem, boos could be heard from sections of the New York crowd.
Trump saluted from his suite as the anthem played. His granddaughter Kai smiled during the reaction, while Trump responded with a brief smirk.
Trump's Game 3 appearance became a major talking point
Trump's visit to Madison Square Garden quickly drew attention beyond the action on the court.
The Knicks suffered a 115-111 loss to the Spurs in Game 3, but much of the online discussion centered on Trump after cameras appeared to show him falling asleep during the matchup.
Trump's NBA Finals history
A New York native and longtime Knicks supporter, Trump said he was invited to the game by team owner James Dolan.
He had previously hoped to attend a possible Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, but that series ended earlier than expected after Cleveland completed a 4-0 sweep.
With his appearance at Game 3, Trump became the second sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA game since Barack Obama in 2015. He also became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game.
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