'Can't stop winning': Obama adviser mocks Trump after boos and apparent nap at NBA finals

Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior White House adviser, captured President Trump's controversial appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in one acerbic post: "Trump goes to the Knicks game, gets booed, falls asleep on camera, and Knicks lose for the first time in more than a month. The guy just can't stop winning." Pfeiffer, who served in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2015, took an additional swipe at Trump, casting doubt on whether he was ever a genuine Knicks fan. 

Trump's presence at Madison Square Garden on Monday came at a price for fans: outdoor watch parties near the venue were cancelled, a strict no-bag policy was enforced, and ticket holders were told to arrive at least two hours before tip-off. Rapper Chuck D didn't mince words, calling it a selfish act that compromised the game-day experience for fans at large. "Leadership has to be selfless at times," he said before the game.

It may explain why Trump and his granddaughter Kai were met with "thunderous booing" when they briefly appeared on the jumbotron. For New Yorkers, the night only got worse from there; the Knicks, riding a two-game winning streak heading into their first home game, fell to the Spurs 111–115. Many fans were quick to blame Trump for the loss, an irony not lost on critics, given he made history as the first sitting president to attend the finals.

Stephen A. Smith, a prominent sports pundit, said that Trump's presence at Madison Square Garden condemned the Knicks to a loss against the Spurs. He was also unhappy with Trump allegedly falling asleep during the game. "I am not going to accuse him of snoring because I was not in earshot," Smith said. "But the brother was not awake. He was not awake! If it was that important to you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep?"Smith said in a 10-minute rant.

Pfeiffer's sardonic jibe captures a sentiment among Trump’s critics that a president being publicly booed and allegedly caught dozing at one of sport’s marquee events reflected an administration that courts spectacle at a time when Americans are reeling from a cost-of-living crisis and then increasingly struggles to command respect in the room. A section of critics also said that it was a reflection of a president who puts himself before the public he was sworn to serve.

President Trump, meanwhile, claimed there were "mostly cheers" during his attendance, a sentiment echoed by Kai, who described the atmosphere as "amazing" in an Instagram story. Whether he returns for the next game remains uncertain; ESPN reported that he may not because of scheduling conflicts. Trump told reporters he was busy with a war, referring to the conflict in Iran. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who attended the game as well, offered little clarity, saying only that there was "a lot of important stuff going on."