‘The View’: Why Whoopi Goldberg Is Defending Trump for Attending NBA Finals

Whoopi Goldberg never shies away from criticizing Donald Trump on The View, but during the Monday, June 8, episode, she actually defended the president’s recent decision to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

Trump was invited to cheer on the New York Knicks by team owner James Dolan and confirmed that he will be taking the offer (NYC’s mayor Zohran Mamdani will also be at the game). These attendance plans have led to increased security measures in the arena, as well as the cancellation of watch parties near the iconic venue.

Many Knicks fans are frustrated by the entire ordeal, but Goldberg said on The View that Trump being a longtime Knicks fan is a valid reason for him to attend the sporting event.

“I’m sorry, Trump and Mayor Mamdani are Knicks fans and have been. They’re New Yorkers,” she argued. When Ana Navarro questioned whether Trump attending could “jinx” the Knicks, Goldberg remained positive that the team would continue performing the way they have been, noting that the players won’t even notice Trump in attendance, which is all that matters.

“There’s nothing either one of them can do to change what’s happening in the city for this team. They’re there. OK? I don’t think anything can jinx anything,” she continued. “I think [the Knicks] are on a mission. They have been winning and doing everything and you could be butt naked up in the box and ain’t nobody paying attention.”

Navarro was still appalled by Trump’s decision, noting, “So, he didn’t have the time to go to Donald Trump Jr.‘s wedding because of Iran, but now that the strikes are raging again between Israel and Iran, he’s coming here for this game?”

Goldberg pointed out that Knicks fans have been waiting so long for the team to make the NBA Finals again (the last time was in 1999), but Navarro pushed back, “He was a New Yorker but they hate him so much here because he’s fleeing the taxes. He’s now a Floridian.”

Goldberg argued, “I was a Californian. I lived in California. I went to the Laker games. But I have always been, at my core, because I’m from here, I have always been a Knicks fan. And when you have always been a Knicks fan, it doesn’t matter where you live. I’ve loved all of the Knicks since I can remember.”

As a new Knicks fan, Sara Haines also shared her take. “If I were rolling as heavy as Mamdani and Trump with security and all this … this is why we can’t always have nice things. Everyone that is from New York and all the implants like myself are going, and I just think it added a lot of chaos to something that the people have been waiting for for 27 years.”

After the hosts discussed the outrageous ticket prices for the game, Sunny Hostin said, “If I scraped up $10,000 to buy tickets to the game, I don’t want two hours of a security line. You can’t bring your bag. You got to take your shoes off like it’s TSA. I don’t think he should come.”

But Goldberg held steadfast to her believe that “anyone who’s a Knicks fan should be there,” adding, “You earn the right as a Knicks fan. I don’t care who you are. I don’t have to like you, I don’t have to dig you. If I was as big as them, I’d still be going.” She reiterated that Trump and Mamdani won’t be a distraction to the team and that Trump will be seated high up in a box at the game.

“All we need to concentrate on is putting our good energy towards the Knicks,” Goldberg concluded. “That’s what this is about.”

The View, Weekdays, 11a/10c, ABC

NBA Finals, Game 3, Monday, June 8, 8:30/7:30c, ABC