Ken Jennings Speaks Out After Trump Gets Booed at NBA Finals
Jeopardy! fans are cheering along with host Ken Jennings‘ post about President Donald Trump being booed at the NBA finals. During the National Anthem, the president was shown on the Jumbotron, and many New Yorkers joined together to boo him.
Madison Square Garden was electric on Monday night as the New York Knicks took on the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks led two wins to zero. However, the Spurs came out with the win on Monday, making it 2-1. The first team to win four games wins the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy and the whole season.
On the way into the arena, Trump was booed in his car as he held up traffic and made fans enter the venue hours earlier for extra security purposes. During the National Anthem, the president ignored the boos, put his hand up to his forehead in a salute, and smiled. He is a New York Native, but has been known to bash the NBA in recent years.
Jennings responded to the boos the president received. “Love to see someone booed lustily. Lustily: the only way to boo,” he wrote on BlueSky.
“In terms of all humans who have ever lived, I am in the top 0.0001% of being a Real New Yorker. (Go there maybe once a year, know not to say Avenue of the Americas or “Houston” Street, don’t think much about it at all),” he said in another post. Jennings is a Seattle, Washington native and splits his time between there and California when filming the game show.
Fans reacted to Jennings’ post in the comments. “What is the only way to boo?’ ‘What is ‘lustily’?'” a fan said.
Love to see someone booed lustily. Lustily: the only way to boo.
— Ken Jennings (@kenjennings.bsky.social) June 8, 2026 at 9:48 PM
“Exactly. A half-hearted boo is just poor civic form,” another said.
“It’s the only thing you can do lustily on broadcast TV anymore!” a third added.
“You can tell they really mean it,” a fan commented.
“I was hoping for a chant, but this will do,” one BlueSky user said.
“I watched it more times than I want to admit. Good job, Knicks fans, for speaking for the majority of Americans,” one last fan said.
MS Now host Rachel Maddow was the first to say that Trump was “lustily booed,” and fans ran with it. “Donald Trump being lustily booed when he arrived at the venue tonight in New York,” she said on her June 8 show (2:15). She laughed at the president’s “warm welcome” to the city throughout the broadcast.
Jennings added even more fuel to the fire when he reposted a Defector writer’s post about the basketball finals. “The NBA Finals have been pretty great so far, and have given fans basically everything they could have hoped for, with one exception—the chance to think more about President Donald Trump. That ends now,” the post read.
The Jeopardy! host has been vocal about his dislike for the president and his administration. He spoke out about Kristi Neom’s firing by saying that those at the airport don’t have to do what she says anymore. He also shared his thoughts on the “hero city of Minneapolis” after the ICE killings. And those are just a few examples from this year.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
Conversation22 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
E
So grateful for people willing to stand up and stand against DOTUS (Despot Of The United States). Cheers to all the fans who lustily booed DOTUS for putting his own ego ahead of the tens of thousands of people whose lives he disrupted just so he could fall asleep during a big game.
-
A
He has as much a right to attend a sporting event as Any other American. You don’t like it Stay At Home. Go Spurs ! SO Grateful for the Millions and Millions of Real Americans willing to stand against the Liberal, Socialist, Communist, Left !! God Bless You All !!
-
E
But when DOTUS attends a sporting event it COSTS Americans MILLIONS of dollars to pay for his travel and security AND it disrupts the proceedings for the fans who are attending AND, due to said security measures, the lives of thousands of people who aren't attending who are trying to make a living or go about their day. His selfishness affects THOUSANDS of people. He could have just as easily fallen asleep during the game if he was the one who stayed home and saved taxpayers lots of money and New Yorkers lots of hassles.
Truly religious individuals, especially true Christians, treat others with kindness and respect. So grateful for the millions and millions of Real Americans who stand up and fight against racism, misogyny, hate, and corruption in all its forms. God will bless those who actually live His eternal, gospel truths.
-
-
-
M
I'm with Ken.
-
A
Thought he was married. Hmm !
-
-
H
He should be booed everywhere he goes.
-
O
New York isnt AMERICA
-
A
Ken the host of a popular TV show was just trying to show he’s neutral with his comments. Uh Huh. 🙄
-
E
Um, Ken never claimed to be neutral. Kinda nonsensical comment you made here.
-
A
Where did I say anything about his Claims ? Reading comprehension a struggle for you. But Still as a popular game show host one would think he’d have the common sense and civility to keep his political beliefs to himself in light of his position. And I see my sarcasm in my comment flew over your head to. NOW had he bragged on Trump you and your ilk would be calling for his job !!
-
E
Your statement, and I quote: "just trying to show he’s neutral with his comments." With that statement you are inferring he claims to be neutral. So maybe it's you who has some reading comprehension issues and don't understand how to do sarcasm properly? (As a New Yorker, I know sarcasm.) As for common sense and civility, the supporters of DOTUS and his ilk show little regard for those things, so there is no standing for calling out others who express opinions with opposing views. As an American citizen, Ken has just as much right to share his thoughts and beliefs as anyone else. As for people bragging on DOTUS, I, and people of my ilk, don't call on them to lose their jobs, unless they are one of the DOTUS sycophants who are unqualified, unexperienced, and unsuited for their jobs and are doing so much damage to this country. Otherwise, they are just as entitled to their opinions as I am to mine.
-
A
Didn’t YOU say inferring ? Hmm ? Do you not know the difference between inferring and claiming ? And I made my point else you wouldn’t have replied. As a New Yorker ? What is that supposed to make you Better than other Americans ? Seems that’s what You’re Inferring. Biden cost over 10,000 people their jobs in his very first day in Office by shutting down the Keystone Pipe Line !! Again you’re reading comprehension failed you, I didn’t say Anything about Ken’s Rights. I Said he should think about his position. Not just people on the Left watch his show.
-
E
Wow. Your ability to understand someone else seems to be somewhat lacking. Apparently, you do not know much about other people. New Yorkers are known for their sarcasm. It's an almost reflexive manner of speech. So I was in no way claiming, inferring, or stating to be better than other Americans. I was saying that, as a New Yorker, I understand sarcasm 'cuz I grew up hearing it. Frequently. As for job losses, look at the damage DOTUS and DOGE did to the work force! Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, completely dwarfing the number from the pipeline. Which, by the way, had a history of mechanical ruptures, causing damage from oil spills, etc. Guessing you don't care about climate change either. So, comparing job losses, DOTUS put far more Americans out of work than Biden. And my guess is Ken does think about his position. He knows people pay attention and uses his intelligence and wit to share things important to him. You probably have no problem when famous people share their right-wing thoughts, so please allow others to share thoughts and ideas with which you don't agree.
-
-
A
YES the Left Does call for people who support Trump openly and are in public positions to lose their jobs. There’s no telling the number of people that the Cancel Culture Left have caused to lose their jobs ! Just recently they went after Pete Hegseth a combat veteran. Why ? Because he’s a Trump appointee.
-
E
I'm so sorry, but your ignorance of facts is showing. Hegseth is not qualified to be Defense Secretary, a hugely important position with great responsibilities, because:
He lacks prior military leadership at the operational or strategic levels, he has no prior government or major organizational management experience, and his main "qualification" is DOTUS liked him as a cable news host.
Military Career: Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, reached the rank of Major, but never held senior military or strategic command roles. Previous Defense Secretaries had extensive operational and policy backgrounds.
Management Experience: He has not managed a large government agency or major corporation. Before his cabinet appointment, his primary roles were as a television personality on Fox News and as a leader of small non-profit organizations.
Policy and Diplomacy: Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee say he lacks the necessary experience in congressional appropriations, international diplomacy, and complex defense acquisitions required for the role.
It has become apparent you live in the radical right echo chamber of misinformation and disinformation. Therefore, this is my last reply. It might be helpful for you to find some actual FACTS to inform your understanding of the world, not just the opinions of Fox News, right wing bloggers, or wherever else you might be getting your faulty information.
-
-
-
-
-
-
J
It's sad to me how far this country has strayed from it'sroots. Many millions of Americans didn't like previous presidents - Clinton, Obama, Biden. But they had enough class to still show respect for the office. It's not about Trump, it's about a fading away of norms and decency. And it's not Trumps fault this has happened, it's mostly the media and many in politics who egg on this type of behavior. Sad.
-
A
Amen. Well said. Just like the Military Parade they just Couldn’t let that happen and Everyone celebrate our military. Oh No gotta boycott that cause Trump will be there. Same for the 250 year Concert Celebration. All those entertainers backed out as they Knew their careers would be ruined, possibly their very lives in danger from the Cancel Culture. And Yet they were just fine and dandy with Biden having a PRIDE celebration on Easter Sunday ( one of the most sacred to Christian’s HOLY Days) in the White House. To Them that is good and proper. But if Trump is in a 50 mile radius don’t dare celebrate God or our Country !! YES the 50 mile radius is sarcasm but point made.
-
E
People who choose to walk away from the vanity projects of DOTUS (Despot Of The United States) are doing their patriotic duty to protest the remaking of this country in the image of a man clearly unfit to be president, king, or anything else. He stomps on our rights because of his ego. He has stated, out loud, on camera, that he doesn't care about the people of this country, their concerns, budgets, health, childcare, retirements, etc. All he cares about is plastering his face, his name, his corrupting influence wherever he can. And Americans have the right to reject his agenda.
-
-
E
It is totally his fault! DOTUS (Despot Of The United States) is the one who shows no respect for this country, the Constitution, the rule of law, or for norms and decency. He has empowered and encouraged people to behave badly (and violently!) by his nonstop use of insults, name-calling, slander, misinformation, disinformation, and lies, lies, and more lies. He is the one responsible for his rude, egocentric, self-aggrandizing behavior and anyone who rejects that behavior is to be applauded.
-
M
There is no “class” or care in America; just “victims,” and Republicans making payroll to afford to employ the zero-producing “victims.”
-
G
Not his fault? Are you kidding? The whole show is ABOUT HIM! It's his fault. No one likes him. Not even his party. With the exception of his billionaire friends he's helping out. They have no shame. If a gorilla was a Republican they would of voted for it.
-
A
PLATNER
-
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services