Despite recent economic turmoil, Donald Trump, flanked by his entourage of MAGA high-flyers, touched down in Miami ahead of making his grand arrival at UFC 314 Saturday night.
Trump supporter Michael Chandler’s clash against Paddy Pimblett may have been co-headlining the fight night but the president ensured that he was the main attraction as he attended the event with his high-profile White House associates.
The 78-year-old, dressed in his customary suit and a yellow tie, was captured touching down at Miami International Airport at around 8:45pm ET before heading to the Kaseya Center.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr joined the president, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is expected to celebrate her birthday alongside the trio.
Meanwhile while Elon Musk was spotted with his son, X Æ A-12, on his shoulders as the youngster excitedly waved his arm as they disembarked Air Force One.
Despite recent recession fears, the Commander-in-Chief brushed off backlash to his tariff controversy to make the short trip from Mar-A-Lago to Miami Saturday evening to support his friend Dana White.
Donald Trump touched down at Miami International airport ahead of attending UFC 314
The president was joined by Elon Musk, who carried his son, X Æ A-12, on his shoulders
Trump speaks to reporters during the short flight from Palm Beach to Miami for the fight
Trump sent the stock market violently spiraling over his initial refusal to back down on his tariffs policy earlier this month before granting a 90-day reprieve for countries hit by higher US tariffs – except China, whose tariffs he raised to 145 percent.
Despite the pressure of his economic decisions, Trump is expected to soak up the two hours of action from the best seats in the house before making the immediate return trip to his Florida residence.
And, speaking to reporters, Trump revealed an unexpected name to come out on top inside the octagon tonight.
‘You know who’s winning tonight? Dana White is winning tonight, he’s the only winner,’ he said of the UFC president.
White has been a long-time Trump supporter and has spoken at the last three Republican National Conventions.
The UFC chief, who even appeared on the Mar-A-Lago stage on election night, offered some words at a closed-door ceremony ahead of Trump’s inauguration back in January.
‘I am honored to be here to celebrate President Trump’s historic victory,’ White said. ‘He didn’t just win this election. He won it in dominant fashion with record numbers of Americans from all walks of life.’
‘Not only did he win the electoral college by 86 points, but President Trump was the first Republican candidate in 20 years to win the popular vote,’ White continued. ‘He also made tremendous gains among traditional Democrat voters by increasing his support with Latin, Asian-American, black and young voters.’
Trump sat alongside Musk the last time he attended a UFC event, in November
Joe Rogan jumps out of his seat to greet Donald Trump upon his arrival at UFC 309 at MSG
Trump has enjoyed a close relationship with UFC over the years, regularly attending events and even previously bragging about saving the company.
During an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast in the buildup to the election, Trump was quick to explain the part he played in making the UFC the multi-billion-dollar success it has become under the stewardship of White, who Trump labeled ‘the greatest guy’.
And Trump’s appearance Saturday night marks his return to the octagon to support his friend Dana White, after his last trip made headlines around the world.
Trump attended UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in November, when multiple fighters did the ‘Trump Dance’ and champion Jon Jones even stepped out of the cage to give the president his winning belt after the main event.
Kennedy Jr and Gabbard were both sitting behind the president at MSG back in November, while Musk was given the front-row seat alongside Trump.
In the main fight of the evening, Australian Alexander Volkanovski is set to take on Brazil’s Diego Lopes in the featherweight title fight.
It is the penultimate fight the president will perhaps be most interested in though, with staunch Trump supporter Chandler taking on England’s Pimblett.
Chandler backed the MAGA movement throughout the election cycle and this week reiterated his fandom of the Commander-in-Chief.
‘You’re talking about a couple months of a presidency,’ Chandler told Sporting News when asked to reflect on the tariff and trade war Trump has been waging.
Trump shook hands with fighter Jon Jones at UFC 309 and made headlines around the world
‘I get it, there’s been a lot of crazy changes but it’s not really changes in the sense that we’re changing the fabric of the country.
‘We’re actually getting back to the way this country was founded, on accountability, on sovereignty, on American exceptionalism, on loving our country and loving our neighbor.
‘It’s going to make some waves, it’s going to crash the stock market a little bit for a moment, just like a thousand times in the past and we’ll see.
‘All I know is, the future looks bright and we’ve got to let things play out.’
UFC 314 is just the latest in a string of sporting events the president has attended since taking office.
He jumped on Air Force One to attend the Super Bowl back in February, went to the Daytona 500 shortly after, and more recently was in the crowd at the NCAA men’s wrestling championships in Philadelphia.
