MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump took his seat at a UFC event in his hometown of Florida, when he said the standing ovations and cheers he portrayed said “we’re doing a good job.”
Trump walked to his cageside seat at Miami’s Caseya Center Saturday night, and Trump shook hands with several supporters when others waving his trademark red campaign cap. The Republican president, who stayed for a few hours before returning to his Palm Beach home, said it was a “great honor” to receive that recognition from the crowd.
“We say we’re doing a good job. If we’re not doing a good job, we’ll get opposition,” he accompanied the reporters who accompanied him to Air Force 1.
Nearly three months after he took office, Trump has launched a wide-ranging effort led by billionaire Elon Musk, cutting back on government by firing thousands of workers and cutting spending, and so far ending Russia’s war on Ukraine and imposing tariffs on many countries, including close allies of the United States.
Democrats and even some Trump supporters have criticised his early actions.
But in the UFC it was a night focused on cage fighters.
“Each of them appeared last and they were amazing,” Trump said. “I mean, they’re all warriors, modern warriors.”
At one point, fighter Dominic Reyes won the match and after admitting Trump, he walked to the octagonal side. After a postwar interview, Reyes went to take a photo with the president.
Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, attended UFC 314 with him and said, “Amazing.”
The president saw Australia’s Alexander Volkanovsky win his 10th consecutive championship fights, defeating Brazil’s Diego Lopez early Sunday morning by unanimous decision in the featherweight contest.
Trump has been a longtime UFC fan, sports enthusiast, frequently taking part in large battles and has had a long-standing friendship with Dana White, the president and CEO of the UFC.
It was Trump’s first UFC visit since returning to the White House in January, and came a few weeks after attending the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Tournament at a golf club in Miami.
Trump attended the Super Bowl and Daytona 500 in February. He was Cageside in the UFC Championship battle in New York in November shortly after winning the election. Trump’s close affiliation with the UFC helped to boost his campaign among young male voters.
As Trump entered the Miami Arena with White, the president shared a hug with podcast host Joe Logan. Musk and Logan were sitting beside Trump.
The event also featured several members of his administration, including Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kashpatel, Director of National Intelligence Tarcigabad, and Secretary of Secretary Marcorubio.
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Superyu was reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
