This was embarrassing!
President Donald Trump’s planned appearance at a New York Knicks playoff game has already sparked major buzz — but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul may have stolen headlines for all the wrong reasons after a failed attempt to mock the president backfired badly online.
With the Knicks making one of their biggest playoff runs in decades, Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to attend a game at Madison Square Garden. The news immediately generated excitement among supporters and sports fans alike.
But when reporters asked Hochul about Trump attending the game, the governor appeared eager to take a shot at the president’s basketball knowledge.
Hochul joked that she would challenge Trump to identify the starting lineup from the Knicks’ supposed 1993 championship team to test how big of a fan he really is.
There was just one problem with the remark: the New York Knicks did not win an NBA championship in 1993.
That season, the Chicago Bulls won the title during Michael Jordan’s dynasty era. In fact, the Knicks’ last NBA championship came all the way back in 1973.
WATCH:
Reporter: "What do you say to President Trump saying he's a lifelong Knicks fan?"
Hochul: “I’d ask him to name the starting lineup of the 1993 Championship team and see how he does."
The last time the Knicks won a championship was 1973.pic.twitter.com/9kDmA2Iziq
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 27, 2026
Almost instantly, social media erupted as critics mocked Hochul’s comment and pointed out the embarrassing factual error. Some users speculated the governor may have confused the 1993-94 season, when the Knicks reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Houston Rockets.
But even that explanation failed to calm the backlash.
Conservatives online argued the moment perfectly captured what frustrates many voters about modern politics: elected officials trying to score viral media points instead of focusing on serious issues affecting everyday Americans.
Critics also noted the irony of Hochul attempting to question Trump’s New York credentials while many longtime residents continue leaving the state over rising taxes, crime concerns, and the high cost of living.
Instead of discussing affordability or public safety, many viewers said the governor chose to engage in a celebrity-style political jab that quickly collapsed under basic fact-checking.
The exchange also triggered wider debate online about politicians trying too hard to appear relatable through sports and pop culture references. As many commenters pointed out, challenging someone’s fandom can be risky — especially when the facts are wrong.
Meanwhile, Trump’s expected appearance at Madison Square Garden is likely to become a major media event. The president continues to draw enormous public attention everywhere he goes, including in heavily Democratic cities.
Whether Knicks fans support him politically or not, one thing became clear after Hochul’s comment: if you’re going to challenge someone’s sports knowledge in public, you better make sure your own facts are correct first.