President-elect Donald Trump returned to the World’s Most Famous Arena Saturday night as the people’s “champ” — when he got a thunderous ovation while doing a heavyweight-style walk-in to the UFC 309 fight at Madison Square Garden.
The former and future president got the sell-out MMA crowd pumped as he walked out to Kid Rock’s “American Badass” with a massive celebrity entourage in tow.
Trump was flanked by billionaire Elon Musk, UFC CEO Dana White, Donald Trump Jr., Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, newly nominated head of HHS Robert Kennedy Jr., conservative commentator Dan Bongino, Department of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, Department of Government Efficiency leader Vivek Ramaswamy — along with Kid Rock himself.
Trump was also seen greeting the rapper and pop star Jelly Roll at ringside.
A tribute video to Trump played over the Garden jumbotron. The campaign-style video featured a sizzle reel of clips of Trump, including the moment he pumps his fist and after surviving the first assassination attempt in October.
Minutes after the president-elect entered, the crowd broke out, unprompted, into chants of “USA! USA!”
The evening later ended when the winner of the main event, heavyweight Jon Jones, shouted out Trump in his victory speech.
“I just want to say a big, big thank you to President Trump for being here,” he said, before exhorting the crowd to chant “USA, USA” and heading out to shake Trump’s hand and let him hold the championship belt.
When he first entered the World’s Most Famous Arena, Trump made a beeline for UFC host and podcaster Joe Rogan, shaking hands and chatting with his newly minted booster for almost a full minute.
“If people at home could hear the sound in this room right now. It is so loud!” Joe Rogan told viewers of the fight broadcast as Trump entered. “It’s always loud when he comes in, but now that he’s won [the election]now that he’s the president again, oh my God!”
Rogan interviewed and then endorsed Trump on his eponymous podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Credit: Alex Mead, New York Post
In anticipation of his arrival, the Secret Service was spotted making security preparations and a handful of fans donned red Make America Great Again hats.
Trump is a close friend of UFC CEO Dana White.
White gave a rousing speech on election night during President-elect Trump’s victory celebration. The fight organizer also spoke at the Republican National Convention and has been a vocal supporter of the president-elect.
Main card fighter Jon Jones spoke highly of potentially fighting Stipe Miocic in front of President-elect Trump at a media event promoting his fight against Stipe Miocic.
“To be here at Madison Square Garden — it’s like the fight capital of the world. And to have the president possibly in attendance, it’s all a huge honor,” Jones, 37, told reporters.
Miocic, 42, was also excited when learning that Trump would make an appearance.
The heavyweight speculated that it would be “kinda cool” if Trump would do the honor of bestowing the championship belt on him after the fight, in an interview with TMZ.
Trump has become an MSG regular of late — hosting a blow out mega-MAGA rally in the Garden last month that drew over 20,000 people.
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