Donald Trump, 79, Botches National Anthem in Front of Millions
By: The Daily Beast
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Donald Trump was caught botching national anthem etiquette during his appearance at the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, where he was heavily booed.
The president showed up for the third matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, causing major headaches for fans trying to enter the arena.
Trump, who officially left New York City for Palm Beach years ago, first appeared on MSG's Jumbotron after Broadway star Avery Wilson had begun singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Trump kept his hands at his sides as those around him, including Kai Trump, placed their hands over their hearts for the national anthem. Nathan Howard/REUTERS
By the time Wilson had finished the first stanza of the anthem, Trump was still standing with his hands at his sides.
It wasn't until the camera panned to him that the president lifted his hand in a salute—though even that runs counter to standard etiquette. The U.S. Flag Code calls for placing the right hand over the heart during the national anthem.
Trump's 19-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, managed to get it right, putting her hand over her heart.
Trump was the only person saluting as others around him followed standard etiquette. Nathan Howard/REUTERS
With his hand casting a shadow over his face, Trump smiled while the crowd erupted into boos as his image appeared on the screen.
A federal statute, 36 U.S. Code § 301, specifies that during a rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, "individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note."
"Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform," the code states. "All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart."
Trump has never served in the armed forces, having avoided being drafted during the Vietnam War five times through four education deferments and one medical deferment for bone spurs in 1968.
But he has nevertheless made a habit of saluting during the national anthem, including when he attended a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium last September, where he similarly drew waves of boos from the crowd.
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The Knicks lost nite too from what I heard. It's all his fault.
Play nice. I have to go do some research
he just stood there because he thinks the crowd was singing the national anthem to him ...
I did enjoy seeing all the people at the watch parties around NYC flipping that POS off though ...
research
... I let that go. I'm conserving my most acidic animus for the deserving ...
I was in a hurry and thinking about where the hell I was going to find the answer to my question. Turns out it was the Chief Engineer. She gave me the right answer.
Anyway....let loose with the acidic animus but don't take out any comments. I prefer they stand in their lonely silliness
I can't help it, I've been blowing away vermin for 62 years, it kind of gets into your blood. at least I'm not using guns here ...
somebody fixed it
in hindsight, I don't think it was very responsible for the parental units to allow 4 adolescents to wander around the ranch with lethal weapons, but hey, we're all still here ...
junior's daughter is probably trump's latest victim ...
that's disgusting to think about
... but not out of character I'm afraid.
... at least she's not on his lap.
and grinding away
I heard he also fell asleep during the game.
News about Trump Fell Asleep During The Knicks Spurs Game
Knicks, Donald Trump and Spurs
Donald Trump seemingly falls asleep at MSG during Knicks-Spurs …
Jun 9, 2026 · President Donald Trump was spotted seemignly dozing off in Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
meh, it probably only cost us taxpayers a million dollars or so to fly that child molesting sack of shit to NYC to take a nap ...
I bet it cost a whole lot more.
I was thinking how tame NYC had become, then I remembered that maga scum would probably regard his limo getting pelted with eggs or tomatoes as assassination attempts, considering how expensive they are now ...
I saw a photo of it on Blue Sky. The guy sitting next to him looked like he was taking a nap, too
Maybe there was a carbon monoxide leak .
... more likely methane, from trump.
he seems to have caught a little nap at his ufc birthday party too ...
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Isn't this evidence that Donald Trump doesn't have a heart?
What have all those CT scans shown?
a near empty skull ...
I'm getting real sick and tired of his Stolen Valor act. He never served and as a matter of fact he lied to get out of going to Vietnam.
When you are in civilian clothes the proper salute to the flag and the anthem is hand over the heart. The only ones who salute (hand to forehead) are those actually wearing a uniform at the time. The cover stays on the head and a formal salute is rendered.
May I go do to some wall to wall counseling with this turd on how he's supposed to respect the flag/anthem?
he got out of that war easily, too bad he can't replicate that effort in iran ...
time for another fake assassination attempt to boost his approval ratings ...
Presidents, as the Commander and Chief over our military regularly ceremonially salute military members and at official functions.
Ever seen a President get off Marine One?
... more like commander and thief.
I can imagine a few entertaining scenarios ...
Many times. The air crew or Marine salutes first, the Potus returns it more or less.
What I have never seen is the National Anthem being played as Marine 1 is landing or taking off.
You are basically comparing apples to oranges to deflect from Trump's continuous disregard for all etiquette, be it social, political or military.
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it's all about the optics, the 47th potus term is a reality show now ...
He makes it all up as he goes along...
Same as it ever was
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Just fucking admit it. If this had been Obama standing there like a fucking idiot during the national anthem conservatives would have lost their damn minds. I mean they lost their damn minds when Obama wore a tan suit for fucks sake. What would it take for you to criticize Trump? What could he do that would be a bridge too far? I'm just really curious because it seems like he could just come in and rape any conservative's grandmother and they'd just be standing by the door smirking and smiling, waiting for him to come out so they can ask if their grandmother was any good in bed. Fucking obsequious wimps afraid to stand up to the conman for fear that doing so will expose how stupid and gullible they were to get conned by a conman.
What would it take for you to criticize Trump?
If Trump turned Democrat. Raping babies is chump change compared to that.
trmp could shoot their favorite hunting dog and still not get upset
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Trump hates America, so why would he show respect? The MAGA thing is just to attract rubes to his grift. No doubt he would adhere to social norms of respect if he were visiting Russia or North Korea.
I think he would be happier there
he probably has both of their national anthems memorized ...
ICYMI...PAY ATTENTION!
trump thinks his high school years spent at a military academy, to keep from entering a juvenile prison for raping teenage girls that he may have also impregnated, is equal to service in the US armed forces. although the 3 former presidents in your picture actually did serve, 2 of 3 being republicans, and none of those guys are saluting ...
No, they aren't. During a solemn ceremony it's appropriate for them to stand with their hands/hats over their hearts
When they salute the airmen/marines when they go on or come off AF 1 or Marine 1, that's appropriate because the airman/marine salutes first
what if a POTUS said at ease, or drop and give me 20 instead, then what?
Don't think he/she has that authority
As the commander of US forces, he likely does.. Pisses me off, that POS saluting, but it is protocol.
a commander in chief can't order the troops to do anything he wants? I'm getting confused now ...
From him I would disobey orders. But then I was never the type to serve aboard AF 1
I doubt that moron can even spell it.
he's got a maga bimbo for that ...
He probably did not know. Trump does not bother learning things ... he prefers to make up his own alternate reality.
... trump believes his opinions are facts, a common denominator shared with his devoted and deluded followers ...
I think Trump does not care about facts. He surely knows he is full of shit. Does not matter. Trump is all show. He is all about perception. And he knows there are enough gullible people out there who will believe his lies if he tells them well enough and keeps repeating them. That is his superpower.
he's a salesman.
just wait for the details of his iran peace deal to get released, if ever ...
Morning..wait 5 minutes and he will probably change his mind again..🤣
it's an agreement to come to an agreement, to be signed on friday. do you reckon bibi can keep his finger off the trigger for that long? the iran war has cost every american with a pulse about $300 each to wind up with less than what we had before, not even counting the cost of the tariffs, gas, and groceries so far ...
not much art in that deal. even the maga diehards are balking at endorsing the deal. only $100 billion to keep the epstein files off the news cycle for 4 months. I'd bet we're back to square 1 with iran before friday.
2026 middle east war games -
israel - 1
iran - 1
trump - 0
You guys are all being really cruel, making fun of a person who is obviously so badly disabled.
Burning sage at MSG:
who's sage? is that the name of another illegitimate trump love child? the name barron uses when he wears a dress in NYC?
those are serious questions ...
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Nah, he wouldn't have been able to get back up unassisted. I don't really care whether he respectfully had his hand over his heart as the vast majority of Americans have always done during the national anthem. Nothing Trump does shows respect to America so this is the least of my concerns and is a bit silly to focus on after watching the President set up a human dog fight on the Whitehouse lawn and invite the crowd to cheer on the brutal bloody pummeling of humans for their entertainment.
Trump is nothing but a tiny-dicked half-wit wannabe Ceasar lording it over the gladiators to make himself feel powerful when in reality everyone knows he's nothing but a worthless sack of shit.
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I have no problem with Trump taking a knee, so long as he’s clutching his chest and sweating bullets at the time.
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