President Trump isn’t worried that Iran will hurt Republicans’ midterm chances
President Donald Trump has said he is not worried about the 2026 midterm elections because the fallout from the Iran war could hurt the Republican Party’s chances.
- President Trump said he plans to attend the NBA Finals game to watch the New York Knicks game.
- The Knicks haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999.
- Trump has attended numerous sporting events as president.
President Donald Trump said he has been invited to the 2026 NBA Finals game to watch the New York Knicks play.
President Trump was answering questions at a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 27, after briefly planning to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David. The presidents presented updates on the Iran war, the economy, and renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Asked if he planned to attend a Knicks playoff game, President Trump said, “I think I’ll go to one of them,” and “I’ve been invited by a lot of people and (Jim Dolan), so I think I’ll go.”
The president has appeared at numerous sporting events since taking office. As Cabinet members gathered at the White House, an octagonal arena was being built on the South Lawn for a UFC fight on Trump’s birthday.
President Trump says the Knicks have been ‘suffering for years’
This year marks the first time the Knicks have advanced to the NBA Finals since 1999.
Trump, who is from New York, acknowledged the home team’s losing streak at a cabinet meeting.
“Well, what a team…they’ve got great players,” he said. “The Knicks have really, really struggled for years.”
The room laughed in response.
Trump frequently attends sporting events
Trump will be the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game. He had already become the first sitting president to attend the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Other sporting events he attended as president include:
- Daytona 500 – President Trump attended NASCAR’s marquee event on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is the second time he has attended the event as president.
- Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tournament – President Trump lands a Marine One helicopter on the Trump National Doral Golf Club course on April 3, 2025. President Trump’s golf club hosted the event.
- UFC Fight – Trump attended a UFC MMA bout on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
- FIFA Club World Cup – President Trump made headlines as he celebrated on stage with the winners of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
- US Open – President Trump attended the US Open men’s singles final on September 7, 2025, along with several administration officials, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and his granddaughter Arabella Kushner.
- New York Yankees Game – President Trump went to a baseball game in New York to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He met with the players before the game and shook hands with Aaron Judge.
- Ryder Cup – President Trump attended the Ryder Cup, a biennial U.S.-Europe golf tournament, on September 26, 2025 in New York.
The Knicks are scheduled to host Game 3 on June 8th and Game 4 on June 10th at Madison Square Garden.
Contributed by: Mark Giannotto, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), thread, blue sky and TikTok.
