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Trump’s relationship with the UFC also helped the septuagenarian TV showman tap into a new era of influencers who have millions of followers who are men under the age of 35. In March 2022, White encouraged Trump to begin to work with a crew of YouTube pranksters known as the NELK Boys.

Trump’s foray into the testosterone-fuelled corners of the internet culminated in late October with his interview with the world’s largest podcaster, Joe Rogan, who also works as a UFC colour commentator and whose podcast audience is reportedly 80 per cent male. During the conversation, Trump made false claims about the outcome of the 2020 election but also waxed about the history of his friendship with White and his opinions on the greatest fighter of all time. Trump greeted Rogan with a warm hug on Saturday night.

Trump and Musk’s expected arrival loomed over the night’s earlier matches. Following one fight, UFC combatant Jim Miller plugged “DOGE”, a nickname for Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, a hazy, non-governmental cost-cutting initiative. Miller also called for justice for Peanut, a celebrity squirrel whose euthanasia sparked outcry among Trump supporters. When Trump and his entourage finally entered the Garden shortly before 10pm, people rushed from the concession stands back into the packed stadium, tripping over each other to capture mobile footage of the entrance.

The audience – mostly men in their 20s and 30s – periodically broke out in “USA” chants throughout the undercard fights as they anxiously awaited the main event, a face-off between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.

After Jones secured the UFC heavyweight title just after 1am with a spinning back kick into Miocic’s ribs, he broke into a Trump dance and started another “USA” chant. He thanks the president-elect then squatted on the side of the ring to shake his hand.

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Matt Mauriello, a 29-year-old from Long Island, said he was grateful that Trump was in attendance and that he was excited to see Musk, whom he praised for his efforts to promote freedom of speech through his ownership of X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

“Dana White loves him,” Mauriello said. “I definitely love him as well.”

The atmosphere at the weekend’s other premier fighting event, Friday night’s Texas showdown between boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul and veteran Mike Tyson, also took a pro-Trump tone. One of Paul’s coaches wore a “Make America Healthy Again” hat to the match, a sign of support for Trump’s controversial choice of Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, to serve as his Health and Human Services secretary. When cameras panned to Kennedy standing by Trump’s side on Saturday, the crowd broke into loud and sustained applause. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Trump’s sons Donald Jr and Eric and the rapper Jelly Roll also attended.

Trump’s relationship with the UFC goes back more than two decades. In 2001, he allowed the then-struggling franchise to host events at his now shuttered Taj Mahal casino. At the time, the sport was banned in many states, and many politicians decried it. The late Republican senator John McCain famously called it “human cockfighting”.

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When Trump first ran for president, White stumped for him at conventions and on the campaign trail. During an interview on TMZ on Friday, White hinted that Trump might make an appearance at UFC 309. He said the fans’ applause for Trump’s walkouts were on par with their reaction to UFC champion Conor McGregor. The ovations for the two men, he said, “actually shake the arena”.

Five years ago, Trump received a more hostile reception during an appearance at a UFC bout during his first presidency. The crowd of New Yorkers booed him and a couple held up a sign that said “Impeach and Remove”.

But this time, under the strobe lights and the occasional puffs of smoke from vapes, some UFC fans waved an American flag and many sported red “Make America Great Again” hats with 47 embroidered on the side.

The Washington Post