US President-elect Donald Trump made a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden on Saturday for a UFC heavyweight bout, drawing cheers from fans as he entered the arena. Accompanied by UFC CEO Dana White, a staunch supporter of Trump’s campaign, the president-elect was joined by several prominent allies.
In attendance were Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both tapped by Trump to lead his proposed Department of Government Efficiency. Also present was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated by Trump as health secretary, who arrived at the event alongside the president-elect aboard his private plane. Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, also joined the crowd, along with Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr., and musician Kid Rock.
The crowd erupted into chants of “USA, USA” as Trump waved to the audience and greeted UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan, a vocal supporter. A video montage of Trump’s campaign highlights played on the venue’s giant screen, ending with the numbers “45” and “47,” symbolizing Trump’s previous and upcoming presidencies.
Seated front row with Musk, Trump watched the evening’s fights, continuing his long-standing association with the UFC. His ties to combat sports trace back to the early days of UFC, when he hosted events at his casinos. Fighters such as Jim Miller, who celebrated his victory by endorsing Trump’s efficiency initiatives, have also voiced public support for him.
