President Trump, a few of his members of the cupboard and his advisor Elon Musk sat down the ring in Miami on Saturday night through the final fight championship occasion – a present of violence, throbbing music and encouragement of crowds that the president has lengthy admired.
That is the second UFC occasion to which Trump has attended since he was elected for the second time in November and the primary of his presidency. In contrast to international wrestling occasions, UFC matches aren’t staged.
Trump has been a fan of UFC fights for years. He attended a late 2019 in New York at his first presidency. And he introduced the CEO of the UFC, Dana White, on stage to talk throughout her victory speech on the night of the elections in 2024.
However the scene on Saturday was emblematic of a president who’s more and more embraced, cheeky and inspiring pressure demonstrations to hold out his program, specifically on immigration and crime.
Mr. Trump entered the Kaseya Heart in direction of the booming sounds of Child Rock music “American Unhealthy Ass” and with supported and thunderous applause of the group. He was sitting subsequent to Mr. Musk, who had introduced considered one of his 14 youngsters. They sat with the director of the FBI, Kash Patel; Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former senator from Florida; The Director of Nationwide Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; And the secretary of well being and social providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his spouse, actress Cheryl Hines. Senator Ted Cruz, republican of Texas.
When Mr. Trump arrived for the primary time, he tried to shake fingers with Mr. Kennedy; Mr. Kennedy regarded within the different route. Trump then went to the outstretched hand of Mrs. Hines, shifting his gaze earlier than her totally regardless of her look.
Ms. Hines raised her hand in confusion and checked out her husband. Mr. Kennedy introduced Ms. Hines to say howdy to Mr. Trump a couple of moments later, and so they talked cordially, however the obvious snobs had already turned on social networks.
Trump remained for the 5 essential card fights, which lasted as much as round 1 a.m. on Sunday.
After the primary two fights, the winners set the octagonal fence across the ring to scale and opened their arms to the group as gladiators. Trump reported them and smiled with approval. Mr. Musk republished on X, the social media website he has, video of a brutal punch launched by the Dominick Reyes, born in California, towards Nikita Krylov, a Ukrainian fighter, who shortly ended their combat, the primary of the night time wherein Mr. Trump was witness.
Mr. Reyes posed for pictures with Mr. Trump exterior the ring after his victory.
Within the second combat, Bryce Mitchell, a fighter born in Arkansas and a vocal supporter of Mr. Trump for a few years, was overwhelmed by his opponent, Jean Silva, a Brazilian.
Earlier this yr, Mitchell confronted a storm of criticism, together with Mr. White, after congratulating Adolf Hitler as “good guys” who “fought for his nation”. Mr. White referred to as “disgusting” feedback, however Mr. Mitchell was not punished, Mr. White citing freedom of expression as motive. He apologized later for the feedback.
Since his first republican presidential marketing campaign in 2016, Mr. Trump has integrated a part of the looks of the battle and the UFC in his gatherings, from studying lists to dramatic stage entries. Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign in 2024 used its expansive use of its reception many years {of professional} battle occasions and UFC occasions as a on line casino proprietor, and adoration that many followers have for him.
Saturday night was an summary of the cultural and pro-Trump ecosystem that helped Trump in energy. Joe Rogan, the very fashionable Texas -based podcaster who carried out an interview with Trump on the finish of the 2024 marketing campaign, was seated close to Trump.
Flying on the Air Power One for a short flight from Palm Seashore, Florida, Miami earlier than the combat, Mr. Trump linked to attend a combat for every week of economic combating that despatched monetary markets in a spiral.
“So we will fight,” mentioned Trump. “We have now numerous fights on this planet, and I believe we’ve numerous excellent news to come back on a few of these fights, and we are going to see the way it goes. However it was an fascinating weekend. I believe we’ve excellent information to come back on sure conflicts. ”
