New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing widespread online ridicule after she attempted to undermine President Donald Trump’s claim of being a longtime New York Knicks fan — only to embarrass herself with a major factual error.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he plans to attend at least one Knicks NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden after the team swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance.

He noted that Knicks owner James Dolan personally invited him.

🚨 OMG. NY Gov. Kathy Kochul is being viciously mocked nationwide for pretending Donald Trump isn't a real Knicks fan, then making a FOOL of herself

"I'd ask him to name the starting lineup from 1993 championship team, see how HE does!"

Jordan's Bulls won in 1993, not the… pic.twitter.com/AH6QbTnToH

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026

In response, Hochul tried to gatekeep Trump’s fandom, jokingly challenging him to name the starting lineup of the “1993 championship team.”

The problem? The Knicks did not win the NBA championship in 1993. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls defeated New York in the playoffs that year en route to their title.

The Knicks’ last championship came in 1973.

Social media users quickly pounced on the gaffe, with many accusing Hochul of hypocrisy for questioning Trump’s New York sports credibility while demonstrating shaky knowledge of the franchise’s history herself.

Trump has longstanding ties to the Knicks organization and has been a frequent presence at major New York sporting events for decades.