Stephen A. Smith calls Trump ‘narcissistic’ for attending Knicks game
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized President Donald Trump for planning to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison square Garden, calling the visit “selfish,” “narcissistic,” and “ridiculous.” On ESPN’s *First Take*, he argued Trump’s presence would worsen traffic and congestion, disrupt security and logistics during one of New York City’s biggest sports events, and burden local residents already dealing with crowds from the Knicks’ first NBA finals home game in decades.
Smith said his viewpoint is not partisan,adding he would make the same criticism of any president. Trump’s expected arrival has led to heightened Secret Service and NYPD security measures, road closures, traffic restrictions, and additional screenings, with limited access points around the arena. Smith also claimed ticket prices have risen, outpricing many fans, and that an official watch party outside the arena was canceled. New York Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed criticism,saying Knicks fans just want to enjoy the game and questioning Trump’s interest in the team.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized President Donald Trump’s planned appearance at Game 3 of the NBA finals on Monday, calling the visit “narcissistic” and arguing the president’s attendance creates unnecessary security disruptions during one of New York City’s biggest sporting events.
Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith said Trump’s presence at Madison Square Garden would worsen traffic and congestion in a city already dealing with large crowds attending the New York Knicks’ first NBA Finals home game in decades.
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“The president has no business showing up in New York City,” Smith said. “I am dead serious. It is selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.”
Smith said his criticism was not partisan and that he would make the same argument regardless of which president occupied the White House.
“I would say the same thing with Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton,” Smith said. “I don’t give a damn.”
Trump is expected to attend Game 3 between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. The visit has prompted heightened security measures from the Secret Service, the New York Police Department, and other federal and local agencies.
Road closures, traffic restrictions, and additional security screenings have been implemented around the arena and throughout parts of Midtown Manhattan. Motorcade routes are typically secured before a presidential arrival, while access points around the venue are restricted to credentialed personnel and ticket holders.
Smith argued those measures added burden on a city already hosting thousands of fans and visitors for the game.
“You’re the president of the United States,” Smith said. “That means whenever you show up, it’s not just the Secret Service,” Smith said. “Security is compromised, and all of this other stuff. You don’t do work in New York City. New York City is congested business.”
He also pointed to fan events taking place throughout the city and said residents would bear the brunt of logistical challenges associated with a presidential visit.
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“We got avenues shut off, we got streets shut off,” Smith said. “What happened to the White House?”
Smith added that Trump’s attendance has sent ticket prices soaring, outpricing Knicks’ fans, and security measures have led the official watch party outside Madison Square Garden to be canceled.
Smith isn’t the only New Yorker to criticize the visit from Trump. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier that “Knicks fans just want to enjoy Game 3.”
“It also is not clear to me that Donald Trump is a big Knicks fan,” Jeffries said at a press conference. “I mean, does this guy even know the difference between Karl Rove and Karl-Anthony Towns? I don’t think so. He’s just injecting himself into the NBA Finals because he always has to bring the MAGA circus into town, and that’s unfortunate.”
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