President Donald Trump was greeted with a roaring ovation as he entered the Prudential Center on a Saturday night, just before the start of a UFC pay-per-view event. This appearance was a break from his public dispute with Elon Musk as he turned his attention to the thrilling matches unfolding in the octagon.
Accompanying Trump was UFC President Dana White. The duo made their way to their designated seats near the cage for UFC 316, entering with Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” playing in the background. This was not the first such occasion for Trump and White, as they had also been present together at a UFC event the previous November at Madison Square Garden, which had Musk joining them at that time.
As Trump approached the cage, he took the opportunity to greet and shake hands with numerous fans and supporters. Among others in the audience was boxing legend Mike Tyson. Alongside Trump were his daughter, Ivanka Trump, with her husband, Jared Kushner, his son, Eric Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump also greeted the UFC broadcast team, which included Joe Rogan. Rogan had previously hosted Trump on his podcast for a lengthy discussion during the final days of the last campaign cycle.
The crowd, comprising enthusiastic UFC fans, went ecstatic, brandishing their mobile devices to capture pictures of the former president. Known for his affinity for UFC, Trump is a regular attendee at major events in the sport.
His arrival coincided with the commencement of a fight card featuring two championship matches. Scheduled fighters included Julianna Peña and Merab Dvalishvili, both set to defend their 135-pound titles.
During the event, Kevin Holland secured a win against Vicente Luque with a choke-out. Seizing the moment, Holland scaled the cage to shake hands with Trump, engaging in a brief conversation with both Trump and White before partaking in his post-fight interview.
Trump’s close association with Dana White spans over two decades. The partnership began with a 2001 UFC event hosted at Trump’s former casino-hotel, the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Since then, Trump has frequently appeared at UFC bouts, including during his 2024 campaign. Lately, he’s been attending these events with well-known figures, such as musician Kid Rock and ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
The relationship between Trump and White has been mutually beneficial. White has publicly supported Trump at Republican conventions, while the UFC audience, captivated by fight nights, has often rallied behind Trump in elections.
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