Former President Donald Trump was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation Saturday night when he entered a New Jersey arena for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
It was his first public outing since he was convicted of all 34 felonies in his hush money case.
Trump strode into roaring Prudential Center Saturday night with UFC president and Trump supporter Dana White to the blasting music of backer Kid Rock's "American Badass."
Fans chanted: "We love Trump" and shouted expletives about President Joe Biden.
États-Unis : La foule est déchaînée lors de l'arrivée de Trump à l'UFC et scande "Nous voulons Trump !"
— Réalité Actuelle (@ReaActuelle) June 2, 2024
Juste avant cela, ils scandaient "Fuck Joe Biden !" pic.twitter.com/nOrtEA6ttN
One fan who did not greet or stand for Trump as he walked by was New York Jets star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who stuck to his seat.
Aaron Rodgers remains in his seat and ignores Convicted Felon Trump as he walks by tonight at the UFC fight. pic.twitter.com/NvkXhqOJxH
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 2, 2024
Trump is an avid UFC fan. Saturday's UFC 302 event in Newark featured a lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier.
Middleweight winner Sean Strickland called Trump "the man" in his victory speech and said he was donating money to Trump's campaign.
UFC fighter Kevin Holland stepped out of the ring to shake hands with Trump.
BREAKING: Former UFC champion Sean Strickland shouts out Trump in his post-fight victory speech.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) June 2, 2024
“President Trump, you’re the man… It is a d*mn travesty what they are doing to you. I’ll be donating to you, my man.” pic.twitter.com/M8YQ3jpyTX
UFC fighter Kevin Holland jumps the arena fence to celebrate his win by shaking hands with President Trump at the UFC 302 fight in Newark, New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/EJdk9tUzag
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 2, 2024
Trump's Newark UFC reception has not been universal.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 10% of Republicans said they're "less likely" to vote for Trump now that he's a convicted felon.
A Morning Consult polls Friday found that 49% of Independent voters believe he should drop out of the race, and half of all voters surveyed approve of his conviction.
