Donald Trump arrives to a raucous reception at UFC 309 with Dana White, Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Donald Trump has made his grand entrance into Madison Square Garden for UFC 309 alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk and of course Dana White.
Only instead of chatting with his Health of Human Services nominee, billionaire donor and the CEO of the UFC, Trump instead headed to announcer Joe Rogan, the podcast host who arguably helped the president-elect return to the White House . Although it is unclear what was said, the two had a brief whispered conversation before Trump headed to his seat.
Rogan famously threw his support behind the Republican candidate after a pair of popular interviews with Musk and Trump on his podcast.
The president-elect’s presence was expected at the World’s Most Famous Arena, where he recently held a major campaign rally ahead of his November 5 election victory. Only on Saturday did the 78-year-old seem happy to cede the spotlight to heavyweights Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
Others from Trump’s inner circle were also in attendance, including informal “DOGE” appointee, Vivek Ramaswamy, who shared a photo of himself alongside Kid Rock. Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric lurked behind their father’s entourage, while National Intelligence candidate Tulsi Gabbard and House Speaker Mike Johnson were also spotted in the crowd.
Joe Rogan jumps out of his chair at the great Donald Trump upon his arrival at UFC 309 at MSG
Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan and President-elect Donald Trump talk during UFC 309 at MSG
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk pose for a photo during UFC 309
Fans were predictably excited for the president-elect, who performed his quirky YMCA dance for the delighted crowd and was also greeted with a tribute video, congratulating him on his election victory.
White and Trump’s fondness for each other is no secret. Trump has asked the president and CEO of the UFC to speak on his behalf at the last three Republican National Conventions, leaving many to wonder if he could take on a bigger role in the White House at some point.
“His base is Trump’s base,” Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former White House adviser, previously told The New York Times of White. “And Trump’s base is his base.”
White, however, has downplayed any potential Trump appointment.
“Donald Trump is one of my very good friends,” White told Sports Business Journal through a spokesperson. “He did a great job in his last term as president, and I know he will do even better in the next four years. I have no personal political aspirations.”
President-elect Donald Trump, Kid Rock and Elon Musk pose for a photo during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden
President-elect Donald Trump poses for a photo in the presence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Moreover, White could do Trump a greater favor through what The New York Times calls “cage-match politics.” Trump now makes regular appearances at UFC events, where fight fans – and the fighters themselves – have showered the former president with admiration.
The best example of this came on June 1 at UFC 302 in Newark, where Trump was greeted with thunderous applause as he walked onto the floor of the Prudential Center alongside White.
After celebrating for several minutes, Trump shook hands with dozens of spectators, including announcers Joe Rogan and Jon Anik, before heading to his seat to watch lightweight Islam Makhachev defeat Dustin Poirier in the main event.
The scene is a dramatic departure from a day earlier, when Trump was convicted in New York of 34 counts of fraud.
Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Mike Johnson and Vivek Ramaswamy appear at UFC 309
Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard appears at UFC 309 at MSG
Eric Trump, Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard watch at UFC 309
President-elect Donald Trump arrives at UFC 309 for a smiling Jelly Roll
Another informal appointee, Vivek Ramaswamy, shared a photo of himself at the event with fellow Trump supporter Kid Rock
In a video posted to X by Margo Martin, Trump’s deputy communications director, the 78-year-old’s unmistakable silhouette can be seen walking up the stairs and boarding his private plane.
Later, Martin posted a photo from the plane, showing that Heath and Human Services nominee Robert Kennedy Jr. was also en route to UFC 309.
Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27
Dana White, American businessman and president of UFC, speaks during a rally for former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, at Madison Square Garden
Saturday’s event will be held at MSG, site of a successful Trump rally two weeks earlier that may have helped catapult him back to the White House. As was the case at the Republican National Convention, White addressed the MSG crowd last month in support of his friend Trump.
Trump later celebrated that victory with White at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
“No one deserves this more than him, and no one deserves this more than his family,” White told the crowd in Palm Beach.
‘This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you’ve seen over the years, this is what it looks like.
‘He keeps going, he doesn’t give up. He is the most resilient, hardworking man I have ever met in your life. His family are incredible people. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this, they deserve it as a family.”
