Trump Celebrates at UFC 309
President-elect Donald Trump attended UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024, less than two weeks after winning the U.S. presidential election. He entered to a loud welcome and watched from cageside with several prominent allies. The night’s most talked-about moments came from the crowd’s reception and the post-fight exchange between Trump and heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Associated Press: Trump attends UFC 309
Trump’s UFC 309 Appearance
Trump walked into the arena with UFC CEO Dana White as Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” played. The crowd stood and cheered; a UFC video package celebrated Trump’s election victory. Elon Musk, Kid Rock, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were among the high-profile guests at the event. Trump stayed cageside for the card and greeted people around the arena between fights. Reuters: Trump at UFC 309
The Main Event Moment
In the main event, Jones stopped Stipe Miocic by third-round TKO to retain the heavyweight championship. During his post-fight remarks, Jones thanked Trump, who was seated nearby. The moment connected the title celebration with Trump’s appearance, while the fight result itself belonged to Jones’s performance in the Octagon. Read the UFC 309 fight recap and UFC’s official event recap.
A sports appearance during the transition
The visit placed Trump back in a venue where he had campaigned weeks earlier, this time at a championship event hosted by an organization whose president has long been a public supporter. Contemporary coverage described the reception and the people present, but did not report a policy announcement or an agreement made at the fight. The concrete story is the spectacle: a president-elect welcomed by the Garden crowd, surrounded by political and entertainment figures, and briefly acknowledged by the UFC champion after the main event.
Sources
Reuters: Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden
Associated Press: Trump attends UFC 309
UFC: UFC 309 results and winner interviews
