With a long-awaited finals appearance by the New York Knicks bringing the sports spotlight to New York City, CNN had of course found a way to turn the highlight of the night into a rant about President Donald Trump. Allegedly concerned about the ‘injection’ of Trump into sports, CNN injected their own politics into a non-partisan event in the hopes of getting even a slight hit on Trump.  The CNN crew brought House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries into the discussion, via a soundbite, where he would rail against Trump, treating his very presence at the game as a tragedy to befall the people of New York: I'm not sure it's going to be a good reception for him, but why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing? Like literally, the Knicks haven't been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We've embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself. I mean, come on, seriously, give us a break.     Making sure to appraise Jeffries’ New Yorker heritage, CNN bent over backwards to try and discredit Trump’s own connections to the city. Bomani Jones went as far as to label it an “away game” for the New Yorker President, seeming to reject the concept that someone can root for their native city’s team regardless of political affiliation: Like, what was the most surprising thing about it to me is that Trump normally turns up at like college football games. Places that for him are home games. This is not a home game no matter where he's from. This is an away game. I am surprised that this is something that he wants to do, because he typically thrives on positive affirmation, and he ain't going to get none of that on Madison Square Garden. Like not a bit. The CNN cast seemed expectant at a negative reaction from the crowds, inevitably rooting for major pushback against Trump’s presence at the event. One would think they would be more concerned about peoples’ reactions to heckling of the president during sports events, given their reaction to the “Let’s Go Brandon” chants criticizing Biden back in 2021. For being so concerned about the injection of politics into sports, CNN sure seems ready to inject politics into the situation themselves. Radical leftist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani will also be attending the Knicks game, but you don’t hear any uproar from the CNN hosts about how his attendance will be ‘ruining’ the game. Contrast that with how ABC News moderator Whoopi Goldberg surprisingly defended Trump’s appearance at the game during Monday’s episode of The View. “Trump and Mayor Mamdani are Knicks fans and have been, they're New Yorkers,” she argued. “I think anybody who's a Knicks fan should be there. You earned the right as a Knicks fan. I don't care who you are. I don't have to like you.” It all goes to show how CNN was grasping at any chance to attack Trump, trying to spin his mere presence at a sports game into being a catastrophe for the fans and the event as a whole. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read. CNN’s News Central June 8, 2026 8:44:51 Eastern (...) BOMANI JONES: The level of happiness that you see in the streets of New York City right now, I don't think anything but the Knicks could generate that. JOHN BERMAN: You're right. I mean, you're right. Just full stop. I mean, I was in Connecticut, Northern Connecticut yesterday, out on the streets and people were yelling, “Go Knicks!” Like out of nowhere, like out of context, they were concerned about that. It's a huge, huge deal around here, Bomani.  But I will say, though, that given how important this is to people, there are mixed feelings about the President being there and throwing that political element into it. I did speak to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about this. He is a native New Yorker. Listen to what he said: [Cuts to video] HAKEEM JEFFRIES: I'm not sure it's going to be a good reception for him, but why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing? Like literally, the Knicks haven't been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We've embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself. I mean, come on, seriously, give us a break. Why doesn't this guy just focus on trying to improve the quality of life of the American people? Because the Trump economy has been a disaster. [Cuts back to live] BERMAN: So what about the mixture or the injection, as he says, of politics into sports, Bomani? JONES: No, this isn't about the injection of politics into sports. This is about the injection of Trump into sports. If this were just about any other president, I don't think it would go over the way that it would. This is specifically about this man, whose relationship with his hometown is fraught, I think would be a fair thing to point out. But in this time, in this moment with this guy, ain't nobody really trying to hear this. Like, what was the most surprising thing about it to me is that Trump normally turns up at like college football games. Places that for him are home games. This is not a home game no matter where he's from. This is an away game. I am surprised that this is something that he wants to do, because he typically thrives on positive affirmation, and he ain't going to get none of that on Madison Square Garden. Like not a bit. BERMAN: It's an interesting take: this is not a home game for the president, despite being from New York. Bomani Jones, great to see you. Thanks for sticking around, appreciate it. Kate?