Former President Donald Trump received a loud standing ovation as he made his entrance at the UFC pay-per-view event held Saturday night at the Prudential Center, momentarily stepping away from his ongoing public dispute with tech billionaire Elon Musk to enjoy the high-stakes action in the octagon.
Accompanied by UFC President Dana White, Trump made his way to ringside seats for UFC 316, entering to the sound of Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass.” The scene echoed a similar appearance last November at Madison Square Garden, though that event included Musk as part of the group.
Along the way, Trump greeted fans and supporters, among them retired boxing legend Mike Tyson. He was joined by family members, including daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, son Eric Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump also shook hands with the UFC commentary team, including Joe Rogan, who had previously hosted him on his podcast during the late stages of the 2024 campaign. The crowd reacted enthusiastically, holding up phones to capture the moment. A longtime fan and regular attendee of UFC events, Trump arrived in time for a card that featured two title bouts, with champions Julianna Peña and Merab Dvalishvili set to defend their 135-pound titles.
During the event, fighter Kevin Holland submitted Vicente Luque and celebrated by climbing the cage to greet Trump. Holland briefly spoke with Trump and White before returning for his post-fight interview.
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Trump’s relationship with Dana White spans over 20 years, beginning with White hosting a 2001 UFC event at Trump’s former Atlantic City venue, the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump has been a fixture at UFC events ever since, including during his 2024 presidential campaign. His recent appearances have often included high-profile companions such as White, Kid Rock, and ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Their long-standing alliance has proven mutually beneficial: White has supported Trump at Republican conventions, while UFC fans and personalities have publicly backed Trump during election seasons.
Source: With inputs from agnecy