Donald Trump will be attending Game 3 of the NBA The finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday – and his presence has already caused heightened security measures in New York.
Trump, invited by Knicks proprietor James Dolan, has referred to himself as a "huge supporter" of the team, which leads their series against the San Antonio Spurs 2-0.
However, not all people are welcoming the President, as some supporters have taken to social media urging him to remain at home, worried that his presence could transform one of the most significant evenings in the Knicks' recent history into a chaotic situation.
Thousands of New York Police Department staff will join hundreds of U.S. Secret Service officials and investigators at the Garden on Monday, as described by law enforcement insiders as a "greater level of security" never before witnessed during an NBA match.
A strict security perimeter is anticipated surrounding all of Madison Square Garden — one of the most active areas in Midtown Manhattan — with full city blocks essentially put into quarantine during the event.
The areas along Seventh and Eighth Avenues near the venue are set to be closed, blocking access to important zones in one of the busiest parts of the city.
No outdoor watch events at MSG will take place either. Thousands of supporters joined open-air viewings for Games 1 and 2, yet these gatherings won't happen again on Monday, as authorities have stated.
No entry for vehicles and no walking passage will be allowed within the protected area, an extensive rule that will impact more than just spectators, but also anyone attempting to move about this section of Manhattan on a Monday night.
Only those with tickets will be permitted close to the structure, and even they will undergo checks similar to aviation security rather than a regular evening at the arena.
No luggage will be allowed within – neither handbags, nor backpacks, nor shopping bags of any dimension.
Supporters have received clear warnings to not bring anything with them or risk being denied entry at the security check.
Security points will begin opening at 6:30 pm, two hours ahead of the planned 8:30 pm start time. Authorities are advising spectators to come early to prevent getting caught in what might be among the longest lines ever seen at Madison Square Garden.
" It's the first president who has ever attended a basketball playoff game," said Rich Esposito, former deputy commissioner of the NYPD, to CBS New York.
The Garden will be filled with 50,000 spectators; now a presidential convoy is arriving, and the roads are closed.
The Penn Station, located just below the venue and recognized as the country's most heavily used railway hub, is set to stay operational — although navigating to and from it within such an extensive security zone will present its own difficulties.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani verified his attendance at Game 3, stating he will be seated "in a significantly different part of the arena" than the president.
Donald Trump will become the first current president to watch an NBA match since Barack Obama attended the 2015 opening game of the season featuring his home team, the Chicago Bulls, against the Cleveland Cavaliers more than ten years back.
The safety measures highlight the increased risk situation surrounding the president, who endured two attempted assassinations throughout the 2024 election and was reportedly targeted for a third incident at last month's White House Correspondents' Dinner.
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