Days after pleading not guilty to criminal charges, former President Donald Trump received a warm welcome after he showed up Saturday evening at UFC 287 in Miami.
Videos posted to social media showed Trump walking through the Kaseya Center, packed with cheering attendees. Trump himself is a fan of UFC, attending various fights over the years.
Beside the Octagon, Trump sat next to rock star Kid Rock, former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, and UFC President Dana White. At one point, Trump stood up and waved and the crowd broke into chants of “U-S-A.”
President Trump received a standing ovation at UFC 287 and then the crowd started chanting "USA!" pic.twitter.com/TeERwryfYQ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 9, 2023
UFC star fighter Jorge Masvidal, who lost his fight and announced his retirement, gave a shout-out to Trump.
“I want to say — greatest president in the history of the world sitting right there,” Masvidal said, prompting another round of cheers. “I love that guy!”
Jorge Masvidal pointing at Donald Trump — "The greatest president in the history of the world."
The crowd goes wild and starts chanting "Let's Go Brandon."pic.twitter.com/H74Qmwugr7
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 9, 2023
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to compete for the presidency in 2024 against Trump, also received praise from Masvidal.
“We also got the greatest governor of all time here in Florida. Let’s keep Florida free — a red state,” Masvidal said before leading a “Let’s Go Brandon” chant, which has become a rallying call against President Joe Biden.
Mike Tyson and Donald Trump together at UFC 287… pic.twitter.com/Q9My4ccKoa
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 9, 2023
Trump, a longtime celebrity businessman, announced in November he would be running another campaign for the presidency. If Trump wins the GOP nomination, he could be up for a rematch against Biden, who has said he intends to run for a second term but has yet to formally declare a bid.
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For months, Trump generally hovered at the top of 2024 Republican primary polls, but his numbers appear to have gotten a boost as he became the first former president to face criminal charges.
President Trump with Mike Tyson, Kid Rock, and Dana White at UFC. pic.twitter.com/AZelkRs5B4
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 9, 2023
Trump travelled to New York last week and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged to be a “catch-and-kill” scheme to influence the 2016 election.
Other investigations pose legal jeopardy to Trump, including a 2020 election inquiry led by Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the federal probe commandeered by special counsel Jack Smith.
Trump broadly denies any wrongdoing and claims politically motivated prosecutors are targeting him.