Dusty Garza
In a moment that just blended politics, sports, and unlikely praise, President Donald Trump was caught on camera discussing Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals from the White House. He had high praise for San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
The video, which just dropped, shows Trump seated at his desk with aides in the background as he discusses the matchup between his hometown New York Knicks and the Spurs. “Wembanyama is a great player,” Trump said. “He is going to be a great player, and he already is.”
Donald Trump just said Wemby is a great player and because he’s a Knicks fan he wants to go to one of the upcoming NBA Finals games.
He was watching Game 1 at the White House. pic.twitter.com/ElDV1Dm1V2
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) June 5, 2026
Expressing his lifelong loyalty to the Knicks, Trump also mentioned interest in attending an upcoming Finals game and later confirmed plans to be at Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, and become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals contest in person since when Barrack Obama did it in 2019 he was no longer in office.
Interestingly, Obama attended Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, while the game was was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Canada- a country that despises Trump.
During Obama’s visit, he was photographed alongside NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and even shared a pre-game moment with Drake. When the arena’s PA announcer formally welcomed him in the second quarter, the crowd gave him a lengthy standing ovation and began chanting “MVP!”.
For NBA fans, the context makes this even more compelling. The 2026 Finals pit the rebuilt Spurs, anchored by the French phenom, against a star studded Knicks team featuring Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges. Game 1, in San Antonio, ended with a 105 to 95 Knicks victory.
Wembanyama dropped 26 points but shot just 6 of 21 from the field, battling double teams and physical defense in his Finals debut, but leading San Antonio to a loss on the league’s biggest stage.
Former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also had a well documented dislike for the current US president. He suffered a stroke immediately after Donald Trump was elected, but he had campaigned vociferously, even from, his NBA podium against the then republican candidate for president.
Trump, a longtime Knicks fan who has attended games at the Garden for decades, was not shy about his rooting interests. Yet his acknowledgment of Wembanyama highlights a refreshing truth about basketball: the game often rises above partisan lines. Even as the Knicks and Spurs battle for the Larry O Brien Trophy, the league’s stars command respect across divides.
This is not the first time a president has leaned into hoops.
As mentioned, former President Obama was one of the most visible basketball fans to occupy the White House.
A longtime player himself, Obama installed a full court on the South Lawn, hosted pickup games with NBA legends, played HORSE with broadcaster Clark Kellogg, and made March Madness bracket picks public every year.
He frequently invited championship teams to the White House and used the sport as a way to connect with everyday Americans. Whether it was Obama draining jumpers in the Rose Garden or Trump now tuning in from the Oval Office, basketball has proven time and again it can unite fans regardless of political affiliation.
In an era of deep divisions, these moments remind us why the NBA endures as more than just a league. It is a shared cultural touchpoint.
For Spurs fans hoping Wembanyama can bounce back strong in Game 2 and beyond, and for Knicks supporters dreaming of their first title since 1994, one thing is clear: when the ball goes up, politics often takes a seat on the bench. Game on.