MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump stated the standing ovation and cheers he drew when he took his seat at a UFC occasion in his residence state of Florida have been indicators “we’re doing a superb job.”
Trump shook fingers with some supporters as he walked to his cageside seat Saturday evening at Miami’s Kaseya Middle whereas others waved his trademark crimson marketing campaign cap. The Republican president, who stayed for a number of hours earlier than flying again to his residence in Palm Seaside, stated it was a “nice honor” to obtain that recognition from the group.
“It says we’re doing a superb job. If we weren’t doing a superb job, we’d get the other,” he advised reporters accompanying him aboard Air Pressure One.
Within the practically three months since he has been again in workplace, Trump has launched a broad effort led by billionaire Elon Musk to shrink authorities by firing hundreds of staff and chopping spending, tried unsuccessfully to this point to finish Russia’s struggle in opposition to Ukraine and impose tariffs in opposition to many international locations, together with shut allies of the US.
Democrats, and even some Trump supporters, have criticized his early actions.
However at UFC, it was an evening targeted on the fighters within the cage.
“Each one in all them got here up on the finish, and so they have been nice,” Trump stated. “I imply, they’re all warriors, modern-day warriors.”
At one level, fighter Dominick Reyes walked over to the facet of the Octagon after profitable his bout and acknowledged Trump. Reyes went to take a photograph with the president after the post-fight interview.
Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, who attended UFC 314 with him, stated it was “superior.”
The president watched as Australian Alexander Volkanovski received his tenth championship combat in a row, defeating Diego Lopes of Brazil early Sunday morning by unanimous choice within the featherweight contest.
Trump is a longtime UFC fan and sports activities fanatic who has incessantly attended main fights and has had a longtime friendship with Dana White, the UFC president and CEO.
It was Trump’s first UFC go to since returning to the White Home in January and got here weeks after he attended the Saudi-sponsored LIV golf match at his golf membership in Miami.
Trump attended the Tremendous Bowl and Daytona 500, each in February. He was cageside at a UFC championship combat in New York in November, shortly after profitable the election. Trump’s shut affiliation with UFC had helped enhance his marketing campaign amongst younger male voters.
As Trump entered the Miami area accompanied by White, the president shared an embrace with podcast host Joe Rogan. Musk and Rogan sat by Trump’s facet.
Additionally on the occasion have been a number of members of his administration, together with Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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Superville reported from West Palm Seaside, Florida.
