Donald Trump’s Triumphant Return to Madison Square Garden at UFC 309
Donald Trump and his star-studded entourage made a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, much to the delight of fans at UFC 309. This marked the president-elect’s first appearance at a UFC event since winning the election on November 5th. Accompanied by UFC President Dana White, Elon Musk, Speaker Mike Johnson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Kid Rock, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, Trump received a thunderous applause upon his entrance.
Anticipation and Confirmation of Trump’s Attendance
The anticipation for Trump’s appearance at the fight had been building all week. Margo Martin, Trump’s deputy director of communications, confirmed the rumors by sharing a video of the President-elect boarding his jet to travel to New York. A photo taken inside the jet showed Trump watching the preliminary fights alongside Kennedy Jr., who he recently named as his pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy had suspended his own bid for the 2024 campaign and joined forces with Trump, becoming a powerful surrogate in the final months of the race.
Trump’s Influential Surrogates
Vivek Ramaswamy, an early 2024 Republican presidential candidate, and Elon Musk have also been appointed to important positions in Team Trump. They are tasked with running the Department of Government Efficiency, with the goal of rooting out waste and fraud in the federal budget.
Longtime Friendship with Dana White
Trump and Dana White share a longstanding friendship, with White making several appearances during Trump’s campaign leading up to the election. White, who described Trump as a “big fan” of mixed martial arts, had been coy about confirming the rumors of Trump’s attendance at UFC 309.
Trump’s Previous Appearance at UFC 302
Trump had previously attended UFC 302 in June at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where he received a similar thunderous applause from the crowd. Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler, who is making his return to the octagon after a two-year hiatus, expressed his hope that Trump would be in attendance at UFC 309. Chandler considers himself a proud Trump supporter and winning his fight in front of the President-elect would be an honor for him.
The Momentous Rally at Madison Square Garden
Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27th was a momentous event in his campaign, featuring a lineup of speakers that rivaled a political convention. Elected leaders, Trump’s sons, his wife Melania, Elon Musk, and running mate JD Vance all spoke before Trump took the stage. The rally drew a packed house, with thousands of supporters gathering outside the arena.
Dana White’s Critique of Kamala Harris
Dana White, in his speech at the rally, warned voters about Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as “status quo” for an America in need of change. He questioned her ability to bring about real change and urged voters to focus on the future rather than the past four years.
Exciting Fight Card at UFC 309
Aside from Trump’s presence, UFC 309 featured an exciting fight card. Michael Chandler, in the co-main event, faced off against Charles Oliveira, while Jon “Bones” Jones returned to the octagon after a long hiatus and was heavily favored to win against Stipe Miocic.
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