Donald Trump was greeted with enthusiasm as he marked his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in New York, where he was joined by Elon Musk and several of his cabinet selections.
Trump entered a backdrop of energetic music and enthusiastic applause from the audience at UFC 309, held at Madison Square Garden.
He spent most of the night seated between UFC President Dana White and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Two prominent Trump cabinet selections, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, were among the attendees. Additionally, Vivek Ramaswamy, who is set to head the proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside Musk, was present in the crowd.
Trump warmly welcomed podcaster and UFC announcer Joe Rogan, who expressed his support for the president-elect following his appearance on Rogan’s show before the election.
As he made his way to the octagon, Trump acknowledged the enthusiastic crowd, which erupted in chants of “USA.” He took a moment to bask in the applause, even breaking into a dance as the UFC showcased footage commemorating his election triumph over Kamala Harris.
Jon Jones successfully defended his heavyweight UFC title and subsequently made his way to meet with Donald Trump, presenting the president-elect with his championship belt.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Donald Trump for his presence this evening,” stated Jones, eliciting a thunderous applause from the audience.
Donald Trump has consistently shown his support for the UFC, appearing at numerous live events over the years.
Typically greeted with enthusiasm by supporters, he faced a chorus of boos during a UFC event in 2019, coinciding with the conclusion of his initial presidential term.
White has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent supporters.
During a speech at the Republican National Convention in July, the president of the UFC stated, “I’m in the tough guy business, and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being I have ever met in my entire life.”
