US president Donald Trump believes the standing ovation he acquired when taking his seat at UFC 314 was a sign his administration is “doing a very good job”.
Making a cageside look on the occasion in his house state of Florida, Trump basked within the cheers on the Kaseya Middle, shaking fingers with supporters whereas others waved his trademark purple MAGA cap.
It comes throughout a interval of intense scrutiny for the Republican president after he imposed the steepest American tariffs on imports in over a century, levying charges as excessive as 50 per cent on some international locations in a transfer described by the EU as a “major blow” to the world economy.
“It says we’re doing a very good job. If we weren’t doing a very good job, we might get the alternative,” he advised reporters accompanying him aboard Air Power One.
Donald Trump was cageside to look at Alexander Volkanovski reclaim his featherweight title (Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved)
Within the almost three months since he has been again in workplace, Trump has launched a broad effort led by billionaire Elon Musk to shrink authorities by firing 1000’s of employees and slicing spending, tried unsuccessfully to date to finish Russia’s struggle towards Ukraine and impose tariffs towards many international locations, together with shut allies of america.
His actions have been met by widespread criticism by each Democrats and even Trump supporters, however as he returned to considered one of his core supporter bases for one of the vital hotly-anticipated UFC occasions of the 12 months, he was fast to take the optimistic crowd response as a vote of confidence.
Joined by his granddaughter, Kai Trump, the president watched Alexander Volkanovski reclaim his featherweight title on the first time of asking, defeating Brazilian-Mexican fighter Diego Lopes for the vacant belt.
Scouse sensation Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett also produced his best career performance to date as he dominated Michael Chandler within the co-main slot, mauling the American to notch a powerful TKO victory and stamp his mark on the higher echelons of light-weight.
Paddy Pimblett placed on a clinic to complete Michael Chandler (Getty Photos)
Elsewhere on the stacked card, Yair Rodriguez gave debutant Patricio Pitbull a UFC actuality test as he secured a choice victory, whereas Adolf Hitler-praising Bryce Mitchell was choked unconscious by Jean Silva.
In the primary card’s opener, Dominick Reyes walked over to the facet of the Octagon after knocking out Nikita Krylov and acknowledged Trump, taking a photograph with the president after the post-fight interview.
“Each considered one of them got here up on the finish, they usually had been nice,” Trump mentioned. “I imply, they’re all warriors, modern-day warriors.”
Trump is a longtime UFC fan who has incessantly attended main fights and has had a longtime friendship with Dana White, the UFC president and CEO.
It was Trump’s first UFC go to since returning to the White Home in January and got here weeks after he attended the Saudi-sponsored LIV golf match at his golf membership in Miami.
As Trump entered the Miami enviornment accompanied by White, the president shared an embrace with podcast host and UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Additionally on the occasion had been a number of members of his administration, together with Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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