Jimmy Kimmel ripped Donald Trump’s attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden—turning the security chaos, fan boos, and even Trump’s apparent nap into a barrage of jokes on the June 8 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Donald Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs—and it instantly turned into a headache for everyone else.
On the Monday, June 8 edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jimmy Kimmel, 58, took aim at Trump, 79, for attending the game and making the logistics a nightmare for other fans—inside the stadium and across New York City.
Kimmel’s main target wasn’t just the politics around Trump’s presence. It was the practical fallout: security at Madison Square Garden meant fans had to arrive hours ahead of time and were unable to bring bags into the stadium. A massive gate surrounded the Garden, keeping passersby from getting close to the venue. The watch party outside the arena had to be cancelled, even as the city still had watch parties elsewhere.
Kimmel recorded the episode before the game, so he didn’t know what happened during Trump’s appearance. Still, he nailed the most notable moments.
“It was pretty late for the president to be out,” Kimmel said during the episode. “Fortunately, he was able to squeeze in a nap during every one of his meetings today.”
Trump’s “nap” joke landed differently once the footage surfaced: during the game. Trump slumped in his seat next to Knicks owner James Dolan with his eyes closed. It’s a pose he’s taken before—showing up as if he’s dozing in his box seat. a look that’s echoed when he appears to fall asleep in the Oval Office and in Cabinet meetings.
Kimmel also dragged Trump’s schedule into the mix. comparing the willingness to show up for basketball to the absence from a more personal moment weeks earlier. “Trump was too busy with the [Iran] war to go to his son’s wedding. but had no problem carving out time to swallow nachos at the Knicks game. ” Kimmel quipped.
Then came the social sting—his take on how New York City has received him. “We don’t know what happened or who won, all we know for sure is that Trump is about as popular in New York as pineapple on pizza,” Kimmel said.
Back inside the arena, fans made their feelings impossible to miss. Trump was heavily booed in the Garden, even though he later claimed he was “mostly cheered.” Before the game ended, he appeared on the Jumbotron during the pre-game performance of the national anthem and was met with boos.
Afterward, the president said he felt he had a “good” reception, describing it as “mostly cheers.”
Trump has described himself as a lifelong Knicks fan, but he’s also long trashed the NBA—something critics connect to the political expressions of some of its star players.
Jimmy Kimmel Donald Trump NBA Finals Knicks Spurs Madison Square Garden Game 3 Jimmy Kimmel Live security fan boos James Dolan national anthem
Pretty sure the real problem is Madison Square Garden being a fortress for no reason. Gate around the whole place, cancel watch parties, hours early… then they expect normal fans to just accept it. Meanwhile Kimmel recorded before the game so he’s basically making predictions off vibes. Pineapple on pizza is a weird comparison too, like that’s still food??