Donald Trump marked his election victory with a high-profile appearance at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 309 event at Madison Square Garden, New York. Joining him were Tesla CEO Elon Musk and several key cabinet nominees.
The president-elect entered the arena to roaring applause and chants of “USA” from the crowd. Trump took his seat beside UFC President Dana White and Musk, while cabinet picks Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Vivek Ramaswamy were also spotted in attendance. Ramaswamy is set to lead Trump’s newly announced “Department of Government Efficiency,” collaborating closely with Musk on cost-cutting initiatives.
Trump enthusiastically greeted UFC announcer and podcaster Joe Rogan, who endorsed him during the campaign. A video montage celebrating Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris played on the screens, prompting cheers as the president-elect waved and danced.
Later in the night, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones retained his title and celebrated by handing the championship belt to Trump, thanking him for attending. “I want to say a big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones told the crowd, receiving thunderous approval.
Trump has been a longstanding supporter of the UFC, often attending events and maintaining a close friendship with White. The UFC president, who delivered a speech endorsing Trump at the Republican National Convention, described him as “the toughest, most resilient human being” he has ever met.
This celebratory UFC outing highlighted Trump’s post-election momentum, with supporters and prominent figures rallying around his leadership ahead of his second term.
