NBA Fan Interrupts US Anthem at London Game With Three-Word Chant at Trump
A person interrupted the US national anthem with a message aimed at Donald Trump before an NBA game in London.
The Orlando Magic beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-111 on Thursday in the NBA's first regular-game in Germany, which took place in Berlin.
The two NBA teams renewed hostilities on Sunday when they faced each other in London, England.
Before tip-off, actress Vanessa Williams sang the US national anthem in front of a packed O2 Arena.
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But her performance was interrupted by a man shouting a message that was directed at US president Trump.
A man could be heard saying: "Leave Greenland alone!"
After the three-word remark, a few boos could be heard, but those jeers were eventually drowned out by cheers from inside the O2 Arena.
It drew a round of applause from the crowd as Williams finished 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
Loud booing for the US national anthem at the O2 this evening.
— Chris Daw KC (@crimlawuk) January 18, 2026
"Leave Greenland alone!" got a massive cheer. pic.twitter.com/X8HSRGg0Nl
The comment refers to Trump's views on Greenland, having insisted the US should acquire the island, claiming that anything less than full control is 'unacceptable'.
A joint statement from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK said they stood 'firmly behind' the 'principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity'.
Trump has vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on the UK and seven other European countries until the US is allowed to buy Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark and has been for hundreds of years.
But Trump clams the US 'has to have' it and has not ruled out taking the territory by force.
Its location makes it a crucial site for the US ballistic missile defence system and it is already home to a large US military base.
"We need Greenland for national security, and that includes Europe," he said earlier this month.
"We need it for national security, right now."
The 79-year-old said it was 'very important for the national security of the United States, Europe, and other parts of the free world'.
As for London's NBA fixture, the Grizzlies exacted revenge by beating the Magic 126-109 in the first regular-season game in England since 2019.
Future NBA matches will be played in Manchester and Paris in 2027 then in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
Topics: NBA, Donald Trump
Nasir Jabbar