President Donald Trump claimed that the raucous standing ovation he received during his appearance at UFC 314 in Florida is proof that his administration is "doing a good job," despite mounting backlash over his controversial new tariff policies.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after the event at Miami's Kaseya Center, Trump said, "It says we're doing a good job. If we weren't doing a good job, we'd get the opposite," referring to the overwhelmingly positive reception he received from the crowd.
The president, flanked by his granddaughter Kai Trump, took his seat cageside to thunderous applause and MAGA cap-waving fans. Trump watched Alexander Volkanovski reclaim his featherweight title and British fan-favorite Paddy Pimblett score a dominant TKO win over Michael Chandler.
The high-profile appearance came amid global criticism over Trump's decision to impose the steepest American tariffs in over a century, with some rates reaching 125%. The European Union has condemned the move as a "major blow" to the global economy.
Despite criticism from Democrats and some conservatives, Trump doubled down on his actions, linking public support at live events like UFC 314 to broader approval of his leadership. "They're all warriors, modern day warriors," Trump said of the fighters, whom he said each greeted him after their fights.
Trump's entourage included several high-profile members of his administration, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Elon Musk, who was there with his son, X.
"They're all warriors, modern day warriors," Trump said of the fighters, whom he said each greeted him after their fights.
Whether crowd cheers translate to broader approval remains to be seen, but Trump made clear that he extended the approval at the arena to his actions in office.
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