Donald Trump made a highly publicized appearance at UFC 302 on Saturday night, receiving a warm ovation from fans at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The crowd eagerly awaited the main event featuring Dustin Poirier, who was challenging Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
Trump entered the arena alongside UFC president Dana White, briefly greeting comedian Theo Von and interacting with fans as he made his way to his seat just outside the Octagon. This appearance marked one of Trump’s first public outings since being found guilty on all counts in a New York criminal trial the previous Thursday.
UFC fighter Kevin Holland won and immediately went over and shook President Trump’s hand 🔥
I love this stuff. pic.twitter.com/JPpzC6Zl0S
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 2, 2024
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, charges to which Trump pleaded not guilty. In response to the verdict, Trump denounced the trial as a farce. “This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” Trump said. “It wouldn’t give us a venue change. We were at five percent or 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.”
Trump emphasized that “the real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people.” He continued, “And they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA and the whole thing.” Asserting his innocence, Trump stated, “We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m a very innocent man. And it’s okay. I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now.”
BREAKING: Former UFC champion Sean Strickland shouts out Trump in his post-fight victory speech.
“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
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) June 2, 2024
The former president suggested that the case was politically motivated, claiming it was orchestrated by the Biden administration to undermine him as a political opponent. “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent,” Trump alleged. “And I think it’s just a disgrace. And we’ll keep fighting–we’ll fight till the end and we’ll win because our country’s gone to hell. We don’t have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We’re a nation in decline, serious decline.”
Trump painted a grim picture of the current state of the nation, mentioning various crises. “Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists. And they’re taking over our country. We have a country that’s in big trouble,” he said. He reiterated his belief that the trial was flawed from the outset. “But this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over.”
The Sean Strickland Trump selfie goes CRAZY pic.twitter.com/muYvJ2cFFE
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) June 2, 2024
Trump has been a semi-regular attendee at UFC events, reflecting his close friendship with Dana White, who spoke in favor of Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. As Trump continues to make public appearances amid his legal battles, his presence at high-profile events like UFC 302 underscores his ongoing influence and determination to remain a central figure in American politics.
