Newark(New Jersey), 8 June (H.S.): President Donald Trump made a grand entrance at the UFC-316 mixed martial arts event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday,June 7 receiving a rousing standing ovation. He momentarily set aside his ongoing public dispute with tech mogul Elon Musk to enjoy the intense fights scheduled for the night. Accompanied by UFC President Dana White, Trump made his way to cageside seats, with Kid Rock’s American Bad Ass playing in the background. This event mirrored their previous appearance together at Madison Square Garden last November, where Musk was also present.
As he walked to his seat, Trump interacted with numerous fans, including boxing legend Mike Tyson, and was accompanied by family members Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Eric Trump, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also exchanged greetings with members of the UFC broadcast team, notably Joe Rogan, who had hosted Trump on his podcast during the election campaign last year. The atmosphere was charged as the former president enjoyed the event, emphasizing a break from his usual political engagements.
UFC fans enthusiastically took photos as Mr. Trump arrived for a fight card featuring two championship bouts, including Julianna Peña and Merab Dvalishvili defending their titles. Trump, a long-time UFC supporter, witnessed Kevin Holland defeat Vicente Luque through a chokeout, after which Holland celebrated by engaging with Trump and UFC president Dana White before his post-fight interview. Trump’s connection with White spans over 20 years, beginning with a 2001 UFC event at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has continued attending UFC events, often seen with high-profile figures like White, musician Kid Rock, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Their partnership has mutually benefited both, as White has actively supported Trump at Republican conventions, while UFC fans and fighters have shown their backing for Trump during elections.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
