Cardi B, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, told fans that his presence at Madison Square Garden helped create a “dark” atmosphere during the Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the Spurs on June 8—while still pushing for Knicks fans to rally ahead of Game 4 on J
Cardi B didn’t wait long after the final buzzer.
After her halftime performance during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, the Bronx-born rapper turned to Instagram to talk about the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden—where President Trump was present to cheer on the Knicks, a team tied to his hometown in the moment.
She pointed to the mood in the building, saying the stadium felt “dark.” In her post, she described what it was like to watch the Knicks play while the president was there, calling it an unsettling energy that stuck.
Speaking after the game in response to a comment raised during an Instagram Live session. she addressed a question about whether Trump was “bad luck” for the Knicks. The Knicks had been on a winning streak in the series before falling in Game 3. a matchup that ended with New York losing 111 to 115 to the San Antonio Spurs.
“It probably was. But it is what it is,” she said, according to social media reposts. “You can’t stop the president from … going to a game. But it did feel a little dark in there.”
Cardi B also compared the feeling to when a school principal walks into class. “It felt like the principal was there, and everybody had to be on their best behavior …,” she said. “But, nevertheless.”
Even with the Game 3 loss, she framed her message around hope going forward. The Knicks are 2-1 in the series, and Cardi B said she was looking ahead to Game 4 on June 10. “I’m still so proud of them,” she said.
She urged Knicks fans to join her on Instagram Live before the next game, asking them to do what she described as a “prayer circle” for the team.
On the night itself, Cardi B performed her breakout hit “Bodak Yellow,” wearing a gray corset and leggings and surrounded by New York Knicks dancers. She also sat courtside during the game with her son Wave, who is 4.
Cardi B said Wave “had a blast,” adding: “He’s always asking for the phone. He did not ask for the phone [at the game], not one time.”
The Knicks will now try to turn that “dark” feeling into something brighter as the series shifts to Game 4 on June 10.
Cardi B Knicks Spurs NBA Finals Game 3 Game 4 Madison Square Garden Trump Instagram Live halftime performance