Blakeman to attend Game 3 of NBA Finals with Trump

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman will be at game three of the NBA Finals Monday night to cheer on the Knicks with President Donald Trump. 

The Nassau County executive is expected to enjoy the game with the president from a Madison Square Garden suite, but first, the pair plan to sit down and have dinner to discuss a range of issues. 

“We might have a hamburger together,” Blakeman told City & State on Saturday from his box seat at the Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course. 

A spokesperson for Blakeman’s campaign did not immediately explain how Blakeman was paying for his ticket, but said it was not a gift from MSG CEO James Dolan. Trump has said that Dolan invited him to the game. Even the cheapest tickets to the game have been listed for more than $10,000. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he’s also planning to attend the Monday night game, and paying his own way – though questions about the specifics of his ticket purchase were not immediately answered by City Hall.

Blakeman often speaks with and meets with Trump – most recently at a May 22 rally in Rockland County to stump for Rep. Mike Lawler. Blakeman said he expects Trump will be visiting the state more frequently to help congressional candidates like Lawler, and himself, campaign this election year. “I think we’ll see a lot of him,” Blakeman said while enjoying races at the Belmont for the second day in a row. 

The 158th running of the Belmont was held in Saratoga Springs again this year, but will return to Nassau County next year with reopening of the new, $455 million redevelopment of Belmont Park. Blakeman said that project, championed by his Democratic opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, was a smart investment – one he’d emulate statewide if he becomes governor to expand the horse racing industry. “We’ve got big plans for Saratoga and big plans for the racing industry,” Blakeman said. “We want to take on Kentucky and become the premier racing state in the United States.” 

The industry has seen a decline in recent years with greater reporting and attention on the public subsidies and the number of horses dying each season. But Blakeman said he’s an animal lover, and it’s about a balance. 

“I think there comes a point in time where you also have to use common sense, and you also have to understand that there are things that are traditional for years and years and years that benefit the whole community,” he said, “and horse racing is one of those.”