Whoopi Goldberg Defends Knicks’ Loss Against Trump Blame

“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed her audience on Tuesday, criticizing those who blamed former President Donald Trump for the New York Knicks’ loss in their NBA Finals game against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks had not hosted an NBA Finals game since 1999. They had won the first two games against the Spurs on the road. Trump, a New York native and longtime Knicks fan, attended the game at Madison Square Garden, invited by team owner James Dolan. The Spurs won 115-111. Some Knicks fans expressed frustration in the streets while others pointed to Trump’s presence as a factor for the loss.

“A lot of Knicks fans are not happy with you-know-who right now,” Goldberg said, referencing Trump.

Goldberg reminded her audience that the team’s performance should be the focus, not Trump’s attendance. She emphasized, “They were not playing great ball. That was on us.” She highlighted the increased security around Trump’s visit, impacting city navigation. “You couldn’t go — you couldn’t make a left,” she explained. “The man is a fan, but my goodness!”

Despite cheers from the audience, Goldberg urged them to hold the team accountable, not Trump. “This man does not have that kind of power,” she stated. “We need to remind ourselves about responsibility.” Co-host Sunny Hostin appeared skeptical, suggesting that Trump brought “bad juju” and “karma” to Madison Square Garden.

Hostin further mentioned the high costs of securing the venue and the crowd’s negative reactions to Trump. “Don’t bring your bad karma vibe to New York!” she exclaimed. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin noted the risks for any president attending during a winning streak, though she acknowledged Trump’s loyalty as a fan.

On Monday, Goldberg defended Trump’s and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s right to be at the game, given their status as fans. “I think anyone who’s a Knicks fan should be there,” she asserted. “You earned the right as a Knicks fan.” Goldberg recognized their inability to influence the team’s performance, saying, “There’s nothing either one of them can do to change what’s happening in this city.”