President-elect Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at UFC 309 on Saturday to celebrate his election victory. He was joined by key allies, including Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Musk, who invested millions in Trump's campaign, will lead a new cost-cutting agency called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The event at Madison Square Garden was met with thunderous applause and cheers from the packed-out crowd as Trump arrived with UFC chief Dana White. Trump's inner circle, including Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, incoming national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were also in attendance.
During the event, Trump was seen reuniting with Joe Rogan, host of "The Joe Rogan Experience," after his previous appearance on the podcast. The president-elect received a warm reception, with a Trump hype video playing on the big screen and heavyweight champion Jon Jones thanking him for attending in a post-fight interview.
Throughout the evening, Trump sat between Dana White and Elon Musk, who has been a strong supporter of the president-elect since the summer. Musk, the world's richest person, invested heavily in Trump's campaign and will now co-lead the DOGE agency, focusing on advising on areas of government spending to cut.
In a statement on X, Musk emphasized transparency and accountability for the agency, promising to post actions online for public scrutiny and launching a leaderboard to track government spending. He also encouraged public feedback on the agency's decisions.
The presence of Trump and his allies at UFC 309 highlights the strong support and collaboration among the incoming administration. Musk's new role in leading the cost-cutting agency reflects the president-elect's commitment to efficient government spending.