Trump, Musk, Kid Rock make waves at UFC in New York

President-elect Donald Trump made a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, joining Tesla CEO Elon Musk and singer Kid Rock to watch UFC 309’s heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.

Greeted by cheering fans and his signature campaign anthem, YMCA, Trump entered the arena to a raucous reception. “It was incredible to see the crowd’s energy,” Trump said to an aide afterward.

Seated alongside UFC President Dana White and Musk, Trump watched the matches intently and spoke animatedly with Musk during the undercard bouts. He was also joined by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump plans to nominate as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Sean Allen, a 22-year-old fan from upstate New York, donned a borrowed MAGA hat for the occasion. “I’d never voted before, but when I woke up and saw Trump won big, I was like, OK, wow,” said Allen, who attended the event hoping to catch a glimpse of the president-elect.

The visit marked only Trump’s second trip outside Florida since his decisive November 5 election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Earlier this week, the 78-year-old Republican met President Joe Biden at the White House before returning to his Mar-a-Lago resort to finalize cabinet selections.

Trump’s presence at the UFC event, widely seen as a nod to his close ties with the MMA community, came amid tight security at the storied Manhattan arena. Known by some as the “Combatant in Chief,” Trump has long embraced the sport’s audience as part of his political base, frequently praising their enthusiasm and resilience.

The night’s atmosphere was electrified by Trump’s celebrity-packed entourage and his connection to fans. “Trump brings a different kind of energy,” said an event attendee, capturing the mix of politics, entertainment, and combat sports that defined the evening.