Trump draws unexpected response at UFC 316 during Musk controversy, followed by surprising act from victor Merab Dvalishvili
That Surprise Trump at UFC 316, No Musk in Sight
Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, turned up at UFC 316, but his tech tycoon pal Elon Musk was nowhere to be seen.
On a wild Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, the Prudential Center roared as Trump arrived to catch the bantamweight championship showdown between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley.
With only UFC bigwig Dana White as his entourage, Trump found himself center-stage, surrounded by cheering fans and luminaries like boxing great Mike Tyson.
The ex-president shook hands with former NFL stars Will Compton and Taylor Lewan before settling in for a night of action-packed fights. Ivanka Trump, son Eric, and her husband, Jared Kushner, were also in attendance, as was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump's arrival in New Jersey came a day before, having stayed at his golf course in Bedminster. He even received a high-five from Kevin Holland after his victory against Vicente Luque.
During the epic main event, Trump shared words of encouragement with victorious Georgian star Dvalishvili amidst electrifying scenes, unperturbed as the champ leaped onto his table after the end of the fight.
But this appearance was noteworthy for Musk's absence. The billionaire CEO had been a significant supporter during Trump's 2020 run, reportedly spending a whopping $250 million to help Trump secure the presidency.
Their relationship took a turn earlier this week, sparked by disagreements over Trump's proposed tax bill, which Musk criticized heavily. As a result, the president claimed Elon had "gone crazy."
In recent years, Trump and Musk's friendship has had its ups and downs, but their latest public fallout has left it questionable if they'll reconcile anytime soon.
The Fallen Friendship: Trump and Musk
Since their early days of disagreements, the former president Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's relationship evolved, with Musk eventually backing Trump. Their alliance reached new heights as Musk interviewed Trump on X Spaces in August 2022.
However, their friendship-turned-rivalry resurfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2022. The pair clashed during a rally in Alaska, with Trump labeling Musk a liar and "bulls*** artist" over his criticism of the Republican party.
Musk responded and X's new owner went on to buy the social media platform months later. The billionaire, who had previously voted mostly for Democrats, backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the Republican presidential nomination in 2022, expressing his dissatisfaction with the Biden administration.
Despite their differences, the two crossed paths once again in March after meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Trump's views on electric vehicles (EVs) initially skewed negative, but he evidently changed his stance following Musk's endorsement.
Post-feud, the tech maverick tweeted his support for Trump following the July attack on Trump's rally in 2022, claiming he fully endorsed Trump and wished him a swift recovery. During a recent press conference, Trump spoke admirably of Musk, with relationships seemingly intact, if tainted.
Yet, it's uncertain if and when the self-proclaimed "Tesla Man" will rejoin Trump's entourage in the UFC's Octagon.
Meanwhile, the undeniable star of the night was the victorious champ, Dvalishvili, who managed a submission against O'Malley, topping off an exciting evening in the world of mixed martial arts.
Following their latest public fallout, it remains uncertain if Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and former supporter of Donald Trump, will reunite with the ex-president in the UFC's Octagon. Meanwhile, the spotlight was firmly on Merab Dvalishvili, the victorious champ of the bantamweight championship showdown at UFC 316, as he topped off an action-packed evening in the world of mixed martial arts. In the realm of general news, politics, sports, entertainment, and celebrity gossip, Musk's absence at UFC 316 was noteworthy, given his significant support for Trump during the 2020 presidential run.
