Donald Trump arrives at UFC 295 to insane chorus of cheers as long-time pal of Dana White takes in historic card
DONALD TRUMP received a chorus of cheers as he made his way into Madison Square Garden for UFC 295.
The 45th President of the United States was in attendance at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’ on Saturday night to watch the promotion’s historic 30th anniversary show.
Trump made a subdued entrance into the arena shortly before the stacked main card kicked off.
Secret Service agents, who are assigned to all living former presidents, flanked him as he made his way to his seat.
And he was greeted with huge cheers by fans when he came up on the big screen.
Trump walked into Kid Rock’s ‘American Badass’ just after the end of the final prelim of the night
Excited MMA fans in attendance then started chanting “USA, USA, USA.”
Trump – a pal of UFC president Dana White’s – has been a regular at UFC events over the years.
He was in the VIP seats at UFC 287 and UFC 290 in April and July respectively.
When recalling his RNC speech for Trump, White told Tucker Carlson: “This guy has been so good to me it’s unexplainable.
“He’s been a very good friend to me since the day I met him.
“When we bought this company it had such a bad stigma attached to it and the sport that we couldn’t even get into venues, they didn’t want us.
“Donald Trump saw that this thing could possibly be big, plus he’s a sports guy who loves sports, and he offered us to come do the event at the Trump Taj Mahal at Atlantic City.
“He cut us a very fair deal and we went down there and did two events with him where he showed up for the first fight and stayed until the last fight.
“Imagine back then; Trump brand is way up, UFC brand is way down, but he took us in and he was great.
“Everything that ever happened to me in my career after that day, the first guy to reach out and say congratulations was Donald Trump; whether it was a letter or one time we were on the cover of the New York Times.
“He said, ‘I always knew you were going to do it, Dana, congratulations.’ And he sent me the paper. He sent me a pen one time congratulating me.
“He’s always sending something to say congratulations; a guy who is genuinely happy for your success.”