Trump Questions Stephen A. Smith's IQ After Knicks Fall 115-111 in NBA Finals Game 3

Q: Did the massive security for the president's visit actually cost the Knicks the championship game?

No. The available facts show the security operation caused major disruption around Madison Square Garden, but there is no evidence it actually caused the Knicks’ 115-111 loss in Game 3. Trump’s visit triggered an unusually large security footprint: a 15-block shutdown, a fenced perimeter, strict screening, a “frozen zone,” and the cancellation of the official outdoor watch party. Fans faced long lines and confusion, and Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said the setup was “inconvenient on everybody else.” Those measures clearly affected access, traffic, and the atmosphere outside the arena. But the reporting does not establish a direct link between those disruptions and the result on the court. No coach, player, or team official is cited saying the security changed the game outcome. In fact, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson said the team could still “get out there and play” regardless of who was in attendance. Stephen A. Smith’s pregame claim that he would blame Trump if the Knicks lost was rhetorical, not evidence-based. It reflected concern that the visit would create chaos and hurt the home-court environment, but that is different from proving causation. The strongest fair reading is that the presidential visit complicated the fan experience and added logistical strain, yet there is no factual basis at this point to say it cost the Knicks the game, much less the championship. The Knicks still lead the series 2-1, so the championship has not been decided.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 9

Air Force One remarks after the Knicks’ 115-111 Game 3 loss drew Trump’s jab that Stephen A. Smith lacks the “high IQ” and “aptitude” to run for president.
Smith had said before tipoff he would blame Trump if New York lost, arguing the president had “no business” attending and would create chaos around the Knicks’ biggest home Finals game in decades.
Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden made him the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, adding a political sideshow to New York’s first Finals home game since 1999.
The exchange also taps into Smith’s repeated talk of a possible 2028 presidential run, which Trump used to turn a sports gripe into a swipe at Smith’s fitness for office.