President-elect Donald Trump electrified the crowd at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, making a dramatic entrance to the UFC 309 event and receiving a thunderous ovation.
Trump, known for his flair for the dramatic, walked into the sold-out arena to Kid Rock’s “American Badass,” accompanied by a star-studded entourage.
Among those flanking the former and future president were billionaire Elon Musk, UFC CEO Dana White, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and newly nominated Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. Also in attendance were conservative commentator Dan Bongino, Department of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, and Department of Government Efficiency leader Vivek Ramaswamy.
Kid Rock himself was part of the procession, and Trump was later spotted greeting rapper and singer Jelly Roll at ringside.
A tribute video celebrating Trump played on the Garden’s jumbotron, featuring highlights from his career and a clip of him pumping his fist after surviving an assassination attempt in October.
The audience responded with spontaneous chants of “USA! USA!” shortly after his arrival.
During the main event, heavyweight champion Jon Jones gave Trump a high-profile shoutout during his post-fight victory speech.
“I just want to say a big, big thank you to President Trump for being here,” Jones told the crowd, prompting another round of “USA!” chants. Jones then shook Trump’s hand and even handed him the championship belt.
Trump’s presence also attracted the attention of UFC host and podcaster Joe Rogan, who greeted him for an extended chat.
Rogan, who had endorsed Trump on his podcast shortly before the election, described the crowd’s excitement on the broadcast.
“If people at home could hear the sound in this room right now—it is so loud!” Rogan exclaimed. “It’s always loud when he comes in, but now that he’s won [the election], oh my God!”
Security preparations for Trump’s appearance were evident, with the Secret Service on hand and several fans donning red “Make America Great Again” hats.
Trump’s close relationship with UFC CEO Dana White was displayed throughout the evening. White, a longtime ally, had spoken at Trump’s victory celebration on election night and endorsed him at the Republican National Convention.
The fighters were equally enthusiastic about Trump’s attendance. Before the event, Jon Jones called it a “huge honour” to fight before the president-elect. At the same time, his opponent, Stipe Miocic, speculated it would be “kinda cool” if Trump presented the championship belt.
Trump’s appearance at UFC 309 marked another high-profile visit to Madison Square Garden, where he recently hosted a massive rally that drew over 20,000 supporters. For Trump and his fans, the event was another reminder of his enduring presence in politics and pop culture.
