U.S. President Donald Trump received a standing ovation as he attended a UFC event in Miami on Saturday night alongside several top members of his administration, arriving to chants of “U-S-A” and greeting fellow spectators.
Why It Matters
Trump, a well-known sports fan, last sat cageside at a UFC event in mid-November in New York’s Madison Square Garden, shortly after he was reelected.
At the time, Trump danced to “YMCA” as the song blasted over the speakers, as he did in Miami on Saturday. Trump’s close ties to UFC are credited with boosting his appeal among younger male voters.
What To Know
Trump attended UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center, waving at the crowd filled with red MAGA caps and American flags as he strode into the venue with his granddaughter, Kai Trump, who is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr.
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Trump shared two separate clips onto his Truth Social platform showing his entrance to the arena, shaking hands with supporters and pumping his fist in the air as chants of “U-S-A” rise from the gathered spectators.
Senior officials in his administration attended the mixed martial arts showdown, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Trump also entered with UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime supporter of the president.
Traveling with the media on Air Force One ahead of Saturday night, Trump joked White “is going to win,” adding: “You have a lot of good fights.”
Trump sat next to Elon Musk, the high-profile entrepreneur-turned-government adviser in charge of sweeping cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and podcast host and UFC commentator, Joe Rogan.
Steven Cheung, the head of White House communications who was also present on Saturday night, told CNN that the Republican president and the UFC “are cultural icons.”
Trump ” is a fan of the sport and the elite competitive spirit of all the athletes who step into the Octagon,” Cheung added.
Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski regained his title as featherweight champion in a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Diego Lopes. England’s Paddy Pimblett secured a third-round TKO victory over Michael Chandler.
What People Are Saying
White House communications chief, Steven Cheung, said Trump would “be sitting cageside, like he always does, and the crowd will erupt in applause as he makes his signature walkout.”
What Happens Next
The next UFC Fight Night will take place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, featuring Machado Garry vs. Prates.