It was a big night for the Peach State of Georgia, as presumptive GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump held a massive rally in Rome. However, after the spectacle, Trump flew to Miami, Florida, for UFC 299 at the Kaseya Center, and as usual, Trump brought the house down. Trump announced during his rally that he was set to take in the UFC event, his first of 2024.
He said to his crowd in Georgia: “It’s the closest thing I can see really reflective of the election process that we have in this country, the UFC fights. That may be a little tamer than the election business. Dana White has done a great job. I hope he doesn’t run for office against me. He’s done a fantastic job. It’s an easier business than politics.”
The former president took in four events last year, sandwiching in the fights around his own legal fights against Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Alvin Bragg, and the rest of the Democrat establishment. In usual fashion, Trump entered the arena flanked by friend and UFC head Dana White to thunderous applause and Kid Rock’s “American Badass” blasting through the building.
The 54-year-old White credits the former president with much of the UFC’s success and has been a staunch supporter and defender of President Trump, to the point of ending advertising partnerships over the relationship. White relayed a story to comedian Theo Von on his podcast “This Past Weekend” about an incident after he posted a video of Trump and himself to social media.
White detailed a contentious conversation with an irate advertiser that didn’t go well for the caller. He said: “I posted a video of Trump on my personal social media. One of our big sponsors called and said, ‘Take that down.’ You know what I said? ‘Go f*** yourself. You vote for whoever you want to vote for, and I’ll vote for whoever I want to vote for. That’s how this works. I don’t even care who you’re voting for, it’s none of my f***ing business. F*** you. Don’t ever f***ing call me and tell me who to vote for.”
In a surprising move, President Trump was joined cageside by his Daughter Ivanka. The pair were last seen together in January as Ivanka had taken a noticeable step back from politics and her father’s business in recent years. Perhaps a coincidence, but Ivanka Trump appears to be rejoining her father’s campaign since Nikki Haley dropped out after Super Tuesday.
During the former president’s entrance, he was greeted by a wide variety of personalities. He was seen exchanging pleasantries with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who had previously backed Nikki Haley’s disastrous run for the nomination. Portnoy had previously supported Trump before jumping ship for the doomed Haley campaign, but the exchange looked amicable, and it is likely the Barstool head will be back on the Trump Train for 2024.
Other well-wishers in attendance were Sage Steele, the black former ESPN personality who battled with the network over COVID-19 mandates and has been an outspoken critic of trans athletes in women’s sports. Trump also chatted and took pictures with NFL superstars Joey Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Joe Burrow. The duo was teammates at Ohio State University. While Burrow keeps his political leanings where they should be, which is to say to himself, Bosa has long been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, much to the chagrin of the woke NFL.
It was a big night in Georgia and an even bigger night in Miami. Despite the slings and arrows from the left, President Trump continues to be a popular draw wherever he goes and is usually greeted by legions of fans and thunderous ovations. Saturday night’s UFC event was undoubtedly yet another thorn in the side of the left as the General Election draws closer.
Watch Trump enter the packed, enthusiastic stadium here:
Featured image screen grab from embedded video
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