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AOC Says POTUS Is Already Killing Knicks’ Finals Vibe

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Photo Credit: "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @ SXSW" by nrkbeta is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

President Donald Trump is headed to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says his visit is already spoiling the party for Knicks fans.

The president confirmed Thursday that he plans to attend Monday night’s matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, setting up what would be the first NBA Finals appearance by a sitting president.

His trip comes as New York rides a 2-0 series lead and the city’s long-starved fan base is celebrating the team’s first Finals run in 27 years.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Knicks owner James Dolan invited him to the Garden.

“They’re a great team and I’m happy for [Knicks owner James Dolan] because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team,” Trump said. “The answer is yes, he’s invited me and I’m going.”

The president also hinted that he might stick around for more than one game. “Maybe I’ll do both,” he said when discussing Games 3 and 4.

But the security footprint around the presidential visit has already triggered backlash after officials confirmed there would be no outdoor watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3.

Thousands of fans had packed outdoor viewing events for the first two games of the series, turning the area around the arena into a full-blown celebration.

Ocasio-Cortez blamed Trump when a follower asked on her Instagram story whether the president’s appearance would be a “vibe killer.”

“It already has been! Now the city has to shut down all the watch parties outside of the arena, that have been the source of so much fun,” she replied.

The New York Democrat said the party scene around the Garden would be lost because Trump wanted to attend.

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“All of that is going to get shut down tomorrow because Trump wants to show up.”

Ocasio-Cortez argued that politicians sometimes need to skip events when their security needs disrupt the experience for everyone else.

“As a politician, I have gone to my fair amount of sports games – but there are just some things that you don’t want to go [to], either to jinx it or just in general,” she said.

“Sometimes the accommodations that are required – [such as] the security for you to show up – are just not worth shutting down the fun for other people,” she continued.

“Sometimes you decide not to go to things so that other people can enjoy it,” she said.

The NYPD confirmed that the Game 3 outdoor celebration would not happen and tied the decision to the presidential visit.

“There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only. This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4.”

Madison Square Garden pushed back on the idea that Trump himself was the reason the permit was denied.

“The permit for the Plaza33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the City’s permitting office in consultation with the NYPD,” MSG said in a statement.

“However, the White House will confirm that this is not about the President. We understand NYPD Commissioner Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected to attend Game 3, though he has said he will not be sitting with Trump.

Mamdani, who has typically been spotted in nosebleed seats when attending games at the Garden, previously told TMZ that he would watch separately if both men were there.

The mayor has been leaning into the Knicks’ playoff surge as New Yorkers pour into the streets during the team’s 12-game postseason winning streak.

He even joked online that Spurs star Victor Wembanyama should stop by a city hearing scheduled for the same night as Game 3.

“I’m pleased to invite @Wemby to our second Commission on Government Efficiency hearing on Wednesday June 10th 5-8pm, where we’ll be asking the public for their thoughts on how government can run better,” Mamdani wrote. “Would love to have you there for the whole time!”

The hearing is scheduled to end just as Game 3 tips off at the Garden.

Trump was also asked about Wembanyama after the French superstar was seen standing with his arms folded during “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 2.

“I did not see that; is that what he did?” Trump said. “What did he mean by that?”

When told Wembanyama had not been asked about it, Trump replied, “Well, I guess you have to ask him.”

The president said he watched Game 1 and praised both the Knicks and Wembanyama.

“I thought it was amazing,” he said. “I think the Knicks have an amazing team. The way they play; it started slow, and it’s just gotten stronger and stronger.”

“Wemby looks like he’s going to be a great player, but (the Knicks) really played well.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also defended Trump’s connection to the team before Game 1, saying the president was a familiar face at Knicks games long before entering politics.

“Before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I’ve been with the league for a long time. I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days.”

“He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden, and he actually appeared in one of our ‘I love this Game’ spots when I was running NBA entertainment years ago.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries predicted on CNN that Trump might not get a warm welcome when introduced at the arena.

“I’m not sure it’s going to be a good reception for him,” Jeffries commented.

Then he ripped Trump for stepping into the middle of New York’s long-awaited Finals moment.

“Why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing? Like literally, the Knicks haven’t been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We’ve embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself,” Jeffries said.

Stephen A. Smith also pleaded with Trump to stay away — though he insisted politics had nothing to do with it.

“He’s coming to Game 3 of the Finals, and I don’t want him there,” Smith said on his radio show.

“It has nothing to do with politics, policy, or anything like that. It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to exist at Madison Square Garden. If it were Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home.’ Stay at the White House.”

Smith warned that Midtown will be overwhelmed when the series shifts to New York.

“You don’t understand what Monday is going to be like in New York City,” he said. “The subways will never be more packed. Don’t drive your cars in Midtown. It will be a parking lot. There is nothing short of madness that is coming the way of everybody come Monday. You don’t understand. I have been covering sports for over 30 years.”

“And I’m telling you right now, come Monday, for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, I expect to see an environment I have never seen in my entire career covering sports.”

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