President Donald Trump arrived in Manhattan just before 7:20 p.m. ET on Marine One, taking a short flight from New Jersey. The motorcade took the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive from Wall Street up to the Garden, passing several Knicks watch parties along the way. Reporters traveling with Trump counted two middle fingers and one thumbs down, signs that said “Nobody wants you here,” “Trump must go,” and “Impeach. Convict. Remove.”
Police and Secret Service agents set up a wide security perimeter around the Garden starting at 4 p.m. No one without a ticket or work credentials could get through the fences restricting access, and then they were made to stand in long, airport security-like lines to get into the arena. Fans were prohibited from bringing bags, and Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said players were asked to limit what they brought into the arena and were searched by Secret Service agents upon entering the arena.
Footage of 7-foot-4 French star Victor Wembanyama being screened in a pair of shorts after getting off the Spurs bus made waves on social media.
