by Madeleine Hubbard
Former President Donald Trump received thunderous applause from the crowd of an Ultimate Fighting Championship competition in Newark, New Jersey, as fans waited for the main event, which was Dustin Poirier’s match against Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
Trump walked with UFC President Dana White into the arena on Saturday for UFC 302. He shook the hands of fans, greeted comedian Theo Von and waved to the crowd, according to Fox News.
Trump then sat outside of the UFC Octagon and waited for the main event to begin.
Undercard fighter Sean Strickland took the opportunity to recognize the former president from the ring. “President Trump, you are the man, bro; it is a damn travesty that they are doing to you,” he said.
“I’ll be donating to you, my man – let’s get it done,” he added as the crowd roared.
Saturday’s appearance is one of Trump’s first since he was found guilty on 34 counts in New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hush money trial. Trump had pleaded not guilty and called the trial “rigged.”
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