President Donald Trump brought Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, and several others along to watch Game 3 of the NBA Finals in the presidential suite.
The identity of Trump’s retinue was kept under close guard right up until the group arrived at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Also in tow was Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, attorney Boris Epshteyn, aide Natalie Harp, and Director of White House Oval Office Operations Walt Nauta.
Speaking right before the game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that Trump was long a “fixture” at Madison Square Garden and that he is a “genuine Knicks fan.”
Knicks owner James Dolan is known to be close with Trump, donating to his campaign and allowing him to use Madison Square Garden for a campaign rally ahead of the 2024 election.
Security was tight in preparation for the president’s arrival, with the New York City Police Department shutting down 15 blocks surrounding the arena to vehicular and pedestrian traffic at 4 p.m., nearly three hours ahead of the president’s arrival.
