President Donald Trump is expected to return to New York City on June 8 to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs.
According to sources cited by the New York Post, Trump plans to be in attendance for the highly anticipated matchup, although officials noted that the president’s schedule could still change. Preparations for the visit are already underway, with a security walkthrough reportedly completed ahead of the event.
Also expected to attend the game is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, setting the stage for a high-profile evening at one of the nation’s most iconic sports venues.
The Post noted that Trump had previously indicated he would attend one of the NBA Finals games in New York. Game 3 is scheduled for June 8, followed by Game 4 on June 10 and a potential Game 6 on June 16.
Trump had initially planned to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the opportunity never materialized after the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games to secure their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
In an interview with the New York Post in May, Trump said he had been invited to attend the Eastern Conference Finals and spoke enthusiastically about the Knicks’ resurgence.
“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday, but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s, as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year,” Trump said.
“Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well,” he added.
Trump has increasingly made appearances at major sporting events during his presidency. In 2025, he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl, watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
With the Knicks making their first Finals appearance in more than two decades and the president expected in attendance, Madison Square Garden is set to host one of the most closely watched games of the NBA season.
