After controversial rally, Trump returns to Madison Square Garden for UFC event

President-elect Donald Trump received a roaring ovation just before the start of the UFC's pay-per-view card at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, combining two things he cares about: fierce battles inside the Octagon and New York. City.

Trump was accompanied by UFC President Dana White, and the two headed to their cageside seats to listen to Kid Rock's “American Bad Ass.”

A return to Madison Square Garden meant revisiting the place where a comedian caused an uproar at a Trump rally last month by comparing Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” Yet Trump continues to relish visits to New York, where he lived for decades, before moving to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

The UFC released a video chronicling Trump's path to winning back the White House, calling it “a great comeback in American history,” as fans stood and applauded. Trump, wearing a red tie, raised his fist toward the crowd at the end of the video.

The president-elect also waved his clenched fists back and forth and briefly danced to the Village People's “YMCA” just outside the cage. Later, he raised his fist to the sky again while “Takin' Care of Business” played.

President-elect Donald Trump, singer Kid Rock, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk pose for a photo as they attend UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York, November 16, 2024. KENA BETANCUR /AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk, Trump's pick to lead a new Department of Government Effectiveness, and House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the president-elect and White at the Garden, as did Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Social Services. in his new administration.

Trump shook hands with the UFC broadcast team that included Joe Rogan. Rogan hosted Trump on his podcast for hours in the final stages of the campaign before his election victory last week. The pay-per-view announcers later said, “Festive doesn't even begin to describe” the scene before later proclaiming, “47 is in the building.” Let’s go.”

The MSG crowd chanted “USA! USA! just before the main card is about to begin, and then again throughout the action. After a year's delay, Stipe Miocic has his chance at a third heavyweight championship reign when he faces current champion Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 309.

Trump is a longtime UFC enthusiast and frequent participant in major fights. He made promoting hypermasculine tones a signature of his campaign — as he sought to further widen the gap among male voters between him and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump and his core supporters embraced alpha male terms and often accentuated them with vulgar and demeaning language.

During his campaign, Trump appeared frequently on podcasts, on gaming platforms, and with key supporters who described voting for Trump as a way to demonstrate true manhood. While Trump recorded a podcast with Rogan, who himself spoke about hypermasculinity, Harris failed to make a similar appearance, citing scheduling conflicts.

Trump's son, Don Jr., was also present at the fight.

Except for a day trip to Washington this week to meet for nearly two hours with President Biden and separately address House Republicans, Trump has spent his time since his Election Day victory Mar-a-Lago. The club hosted galas and conservative events throughout the week.

Trump has been close to White for more than two decades.

White hosted a UFC fight in 2001 at the Trump Taj Mahal, a former hotel-casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Trump has frequently attended UFC matches since, including during his campaign. 2024. Trump has recently shown up to brawls with famous entourages, including White, musician Kid Rock and former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.

In 2018, during Trump's first term, he and White starred in a UFC video in which the then-president was referred to as the “fighter in chief.”

As Trump has strengthened his grip on the national Republican Party over the past decade, White's personal political profile has grown exponentially. White spoke at the 2016 and 2020 Republican conventions, as well as when the party met in Milwaukee last July. He also addressed the crowd at Trump's victory party in Florida in the early morning hours after Election Day.

“This is what happens when the machine comes after you,” White said then. “What you've seen over the last few years, this is what it looks like: I couldn't stop him. He just keeps moving forward. He doesn't give up.”

More from CBS News

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos