President-elect Donald Trump received an enthusiastic welcome at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night as he attended UFC 309.

Image Credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he sits ringside during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The event marked Trump’s first public appearance at a UFC event since his election victory on November 5, where he defeated Kamala Harris.

Trump entered the arena with a high-profile entourage, including UFC President Dana White, Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, conservative radio host Dan Bongino, Kid Rock, Tulsi Gabbard, and his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

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The crowd erupted into cheers and chants of “USA! USA!” as Trump made his way to his Octagon-side seat.

UFC commentators Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Joe Rogan noted the deafening applause. “It’s always loud when he comes in, but now that he’s won [the election], oh my God!” Rogan said on the pay-per-view broadcast.

Before taking his seat, Trump greeted Rogan at the announcers’ table.

The podcast host had endorsed Trump just over 24 hours before Election Day after hosting the president-elect on his show in late October.

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Once seated alongside White and Musk, Trump was featured on the stadium’s Jumbotron, drawing another round of applause.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was also highlighted on the screen, receiving cheers from the crowd.

Trump has been a regular at UFC events over the years, and White, a close friend, has been a vocal supporter of the president-elect.

White praised Trump’s support of mixed martial arts, noting that Trump was one of the first to embrace the sport during its early years. “When you think about fighter walkouts... the two biggest that actually shake the arena are President Trump and Conor McGregor,” White told TMZ Sports ahead of the event.

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The event also featured fighters such as Michael Chandler and Jon “Bones” Jones. Chandler, a known Trump supporter, expressed his excitement about the president-elect’s attendance, saying, “Winning my fight in front of Trump would be an honor.”

Trump’s attendance at UFC 309 follows his historic October 27 rally at Madison Square Garden, which drew a packed house.

The event featured speeches from prominent figures, including his sons Don Jr. and Eric, Musk, and running mate JD Vance. White also spoke at the rally, delivering a critique of Kamala Harris’ leadership.

"She talks a lot about the need for change and her hope for the future. Hope and change. Does that sound familiar?" White said during the rally. "She is the sitting vice president of the United States right now. What she hopes is voters will focus on the future because she doesn’t want us looking at the last four years."

Trump’s presence at the UFC event signals his continued connection to both sports and his supporters.

With chants of “USA!” echoing throughout the arena, his post-election momentum shows no sign of slowing down.

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