Before the UFC pay-per-view event on Saturday night, President-elect Donald Trump made a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden and was given a standing ovation. Trump, who is well-known for his love of the UFC and New York City, entered the event with UFC President Dana White while listening to Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass.”
The event was a return to the famous location where a derogatory remark about Puerto Rico caused controversy at a recent Trump rally. Trump enjoyed his trip to the city he called home for decades before moving to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Trump’s “great comeback in American history,” which detailed his journey to retake the White House, was featured in a promotional video. As the video came to an end, the audience erupted in cheers and chants as Trump pumped his fist.
Outside the cage, Trump showed his excitement by dancing momentarily to “YMCA” and raising his fist once again to the song “Takin’ Care of Business.” His fans in the audience erupted in “USA! USA!” as the main UFC show got underway.
Elon Musk, who was named to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, and Robert Kennedy Jr., who is anticipated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, were among the prominent figures who attended the ceremony with Trump. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, was also in attendance.
Trump greeted UFC announcers, including Joe Rogan, who hosted him on a podcast during the final stages of his campaign. The broadcast team hyped his presence, declaring, “47’s in the building,” adding to the charged atmosphere at the event.
In the main event of UFC 309, Stipe Miocic faced up against the current heavyweight champion Jon Jones for a third heavyweight title. Trump has long supported the game, and his enthusiasm for it aligns with the hypermasculine aspects he emphasized during his campaign.
Throughout his campaign, Trump regularly used “alpha-male” rhetoric to present himself as a representation of power and masculinity. His campaign sought to get more men to the ballot, in contrast to his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who adopted a different strategy.
While campaigning, Trump appeared on various media platforms, including Rogan’s podcast, to promote his vision of leadership. His son, Don Jr., was also present at the UFC event, reinforcing the family’s support for Trump’s initiatives.
Since his Election Day victory, Trump has spent most of his time at Mar-a-Lago, hosting galas and conservative events. A brief trip to Washington this week included meetings with President Biden and House Republicans.
Trump’s relationship with Dana White spans over two decades, beginning with a 2001 UFC event at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. White has been a vocal supporter of Trump, speaking at Republican conventions and celebrating Trump’s resilience in the face of political opposition.
“This is what happens when the machine comes after you… he keeps going forward,” White said in describing Trump’s tenacity. He never gives up. Their partnership demonstrates Trump’s close ties to the UFC and its supporters, with whom he is still in contact as he gets ready to take office again.
