The New York Knicks have accepted an invitation from Donald Trump, following their historic NBA championship victory. The team will soon head to the White House, as further details remain under wraps. Knicks owner James Dolan shared the news in a recent interview.
Knicks accept Donald Trump’s invitation to White House
Speaking with WFAN New York on Wednesday, June 17, James Dolan, the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., the owner of the Knicks, confirmed that the team has accepted an invitation to the White House.
“We just did receive an invitation from [the] White House, which we accepted,” Dolan revealed. When questioned about the highly anticipated celebration, Dolan shared, “We still have to figure out the details.”
The White House invitation comes shortly after the Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years, by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13.
During the interview, Dolan also spoke about his friendship with Donald Trump. “I invited the President to come down for the game,” the Knicks owner said. He added, “He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years, and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
Previously, Trump’s appearance at the Knicks game against the Spurs on June 8 sparked controversy. The crowd booed the president as he enjoyed the game from a private box at Madison Square Garden, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump. Many ticket holders were reportedly frustrated with the tight security measures in place at the venue for the president’s visit.
Spurs point guard also spoke out against Trump’s appearance at the game. “I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient for everybody else,” he said at the time. “We’re getting screened like it’s TSA. It’s a little inconvenient for the people that’s got to play, but it is what it is,” Fox added.
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on Mandatory.
