Trump Goes To Fight

President Donald Trump said the enthusiastic cheers and standing ovation he received at a UFC event in Miami were a reflection of public approval for his leadership. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after the event, Trump said the crowd’s response showed, in his words, “we’re doing a good job.”

The president arrived at the Kaseya Center on Saturday night and made his way to a cageside seat, shaking hands with supporters and acknowledging fans waving his signature red campaign hats. He remained at the event for several hours before returning to his residence in Palm Beach.

“It says we’re doing a good job. If we weren’t doing a good job, we’d get the opposite,” Trump remarked, describing the cheers as a “great honor.”

Since returning to office in January, Trump has launched a series of sweeping policy efforts aimed at reshaping the federal government. With the support of Elon Musk, he has pursued aggressive budget cuts, a major reduction in the federal workforce, and widespread tariffs targeting countries including traditional U.S. allies. His foreign policy efforts have included an attempt to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, though that effort has yet to yield results. These early moves have drawn criticism not only from Democrats but also from some within his own base.

At the UFC event, however, the focus was on the athletes and the action in the Octagon. Trump spoke highly of the fighters, referring to them as “modern day warriors.”

“Every one of them came up at the end, and they were great,” he said.

Fighter Dominick Reyes made a point to acknowledge Trump after his match, later taking a photo with the president following a post-fight interview. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, who accompanied him to the event, described the night as “awesome.”

The president watched as Australian fighter Alexander Volkanovski claimed victory in his 10th consecutive championship bout, defeating Brazil’s Diego Lopes in a featherweight match that went to a unanimous decision early Sunday morning.

Trump’s connection to UFC is longstanding, both as a personal fan and as a friend of UFC president Dana White. He has regularly attended major fights and events, leveraging his association with UFC to appeal to younger male voters, a demographic that has historically resonated with the sport’s culture.

Saturday marked Trump’s first return to a UFC event since reclaiming the White House. It followed other high-profile public appearances this year, including the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament at his Miami golf course.

During the event, Trump was joined by several high-profile members of his administration. Seated nearby were Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also in attendance were tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and podcast host Joe Rogan, both of whom shared a visible camaraderie with the president throughout the night.