Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game on Monday (June 8) when he viewed game three between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
Cardi B, who performed the halftime show in front of the home crowd, hopped on Instagram Live early Tuesday (June 9), during which she spoke on Trump being in the building and the “dark” vibe he brought to the arena.
“It probably was,” she said in response to a fan calling Trump’s attendance bad luck. “You can’t stop the president from f–king going to a game, but it did feel a little dark in there. It’s OK.”
Cardi continued while eating a SpongeBob ice cream bar: “It felt kinda dark. You know how it felt like in there? It felt like the principal was there and everybody had to be on their best behavior.”
Billboard has reached out to the White House for comment.
With Trump showing up to the game, that meant increased security measures for fans attending the game, and also included shutting down the blocks surrounding Madison Square Garden.
Cardi, who’s been critical of Trump in the past, understood about the extra security and even got to see the Secret Service in action for the first time.
“You know how you always wonder how they look? Yeah, I saw them in person,” she said. “They were in front of my car. They were making us do mad circles. I wasn’t even gonna complain because I kinda get it.”
Cardi B hit the court for a three-minute halftime show to hype up the home crowd. Alongside the Knicks City Dancers, Cardi performed “Bodega Baddie” and her breakout smash “Bodak Yellow,” the latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017.
Following the performance, Cardi took in the action while sitting on the baseline next to the Spurs bench with her son, Wave, whom she shares with estranged husband Offset. “They got me right next to the opps! But I’mma be nice, ’cause I know this is a lot for them,” she said on her IG Story.
Despite the 115-111 loss for the Knicks, Cardi remains confident in the team and voiced that she wants to hop on IG Live again before game four on Wednesday night (June 10) to host a prayer circle with Knicks fans.
