Trump takes a break from making Cabinet picks and attends UFC championship fight in New York

17 Nov 2024

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President-elect Donald Trump received a thunderous standing ovation as he made his entrance before the UFC pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. This moment brought together two of his passions: intense competitions in the octagon and the vibrant atmosphere of New York City.

Trump was joined by UFC President Dana White as they made their way to their seats by the cage, with Kid Rock's "American Bad Ass" playing in the background. The UFC showcased a video highlighting Trump's journey to the presidency, and the audience responded with cheers and applause. Dressed in a red tie, Trump celebrated by raising his fist in excitement as the video wrapped up.

Trump was energetically moving his fists up and down and even did a quick dance to the Village People’s “YMCA” right outside the cage.

Elon Musk, who was chosen by Trump to head a new Department of Government Efficiency, and House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, accompanied Trump and White at the Garden. Trump greeted the UFC broadcasting team, which featured Joe Rogan. Rogan had previously interviewed Trump on his podcast.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden erupted into chants of "USA! USA!" just moments before the main card kicked off. After a year-long wait, Stipe Miocic is finally getting the chance to reclaim the heavyweight title as he faces off against the reigning champion, Jon Jones, in the main event of UFC 309.

Trump has been a passionate fan of the UFC for many years and often goes to see big fights. In his most recent and successful campaign for the White House, he emphasized a strong masculine image to connect with male voters, aiming to create a clear distinction between himself and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump and his key supporters adopted terms associated with alpha males, frequently highlighting them with crude and belittling language.

During his campaign, Trump often appeared on podcasts, gaming sites, and with influential supporters who portrayed voting for him as a sign of real masculinity. He dedicated three hours to recording a podcast with Rogan, who has discussed themes of hypermasculinity. In contrast, Harris couldn't arrange a similar appearance with Rogan due to scheduling issues.

Going back to Madison Square Garden brings to mind the recent incident where a comedian stirred controversy at a Trump rally by comparing Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” Despite this, Trump enjoys his trips to New York, a city he called home for many years before relocating to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump stepped onto his plane for the trip to New York, joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the person he selected to head the Department of Health and Human Services once his administration starts on January 20th.

Donald Trump's son, Don Jr., was present at the match as well.

Aside from a day visit to Washington this week, where he met with President Joe Biden for almost two hours and spoke to House Republicans separately, Trump has been at Mar-a-Lago since his Election Day win. Throughout the week, the club has been busy hosting parties and events for conservatives.

Trump has had a close relationship with White for over twenty years.

In 2001, White organized a UFC event at the Trump Taj Mahal, once a well-known casino and hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Since then, Trump has been a regular at UFC events, even during his campaign in 2024. Recently, he has been spotted at fights accompanied by notable guests like White, musician Kid Rock, and former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.

In 2018, during Trump's initial presidency, he and White appeared in a UFC video in which the former president was referred to as the “Combatant In Chief.”

As Trump has solidified his influence within the national Republican Party over the past few years, White's political presence has significantly increased. White delivered speeches at the Republican conventions in both 2016 and 2020, and he also spoke at the party's recent meeting in Milwaukee last July. Additionally, he addressed attendees at Trump’s victory celebration in Florida shortly after the polls closed on Election Day.

"This is the result when the machine targets you," White remarked at that time. "What you've witnessed in recent years is just this: there's no stopping him. He continues to push ahead. He never gives up."

Weissert provided coverage from Palm Beach, Florida.