They are MAGA professional boxers.
Donald Trump's aides who visited UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday are offering some clues about who is in the inner circle working to form the Trump administration.
With just over two months left until Inauguration Day, the president-elect is preparing for a political battle over his nominee.
And as he watched a series of MMA bouts ringside, Trump was surrounded by his most loyal allies, almost all of whom were members of the traditional power structure that had ruled Washington for decades. I was on the outside.
“It's really like ancient Rome. It's like Caesar, the conqueror and republican, walking into the Colosseum and everyone cheering. And he's accompanied by political gladiators. “I'm here,” Bulwark said. Reporter Marc Caputo He said this on CNN on Sunday.
“It's not just that he's enjoying the applause, it's sending a message to the Senate. He's not just having fun, this is my comrade, are you willing to fight? This is me. is.”
Trump received a hero's welcome, thrilling a raucous crowd packed into New York's iconic arena. He entered alongside UFC CEO Dana White and the rest of his entourage.
Behind him during the grand entrance were House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), billionaire Elon Musk, eldest son Donald Trump Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., formerly of Hawaii. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and others were there.
Notably, recently elected Senate Republican Conference Leader John Thune (R-South Carolina) did not participate in the trip. Last week, the MAGA world generally supported Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in the race to succeed retiring Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), but Trump remains neutral. It was.
Johnson, 52, has struggled with a divided and rowdy group of House Republicans, but has worked hard to ingratiate himself with President Trump, helping him eliminate competition for the gavel from the right last week. did.
“I think what the American people believe and what they have been tasked with in this election is this.” [a] We're calling for an end to the status quo, and it's not working for the American people,” Johnson said Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union.”
“What I say about the candidates the president has endorsed is that they are people who are going to disrupt the status quo,” Johnson added.
Everyone in this photo was once a Democrat.
Let's understand that. pic.twitter.com/5Appaob3V0
— Natalie F. Danelishen (@Chesschick01) November 17, 2024
In the process of staffing his incoming administration, President Trump has generally tapped more people considered disruptive to lead major agencies and departments than he did in his first administration.
This includes Mr. Kennedy being elected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Ms. Gabbard becoming Director of National Intelligence.
Both options have been met with strong resistance from Democrats and even some Republicans.
President Trump has named Musk and technology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (which is technically not a government department). (Ramaswamy was also near the match.)
Donald Trump Jr. is widely believed to play a key role in personnel decisions and has asked his father to refrain from making so-called establishment nominations.
The president-elect was also seen posing with musician Kid Rock and greeting podcast giant and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.
Once aboard Trump Force
Before his triumphant arrival, Trump was photographed eating McDonald's next to Trump Jr., Musk, Kennedy and Johnson.
President Kennedy, who has long campaigned against America's unhealthy food consumption habits, looked worried next to a McDonald's meal.
Many of these men spent ample time with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the immediate aftermath of his election victory, working to shore up the incoming administration's staff and listening to his plans for the next four years in the White House.
Learning that Mr. Kennedy might take the HHS role sent shivers down the spines of many top public health officials.
On Friday, drug company stocks tumbled after President Trump announced his RFK Jr. as an HHS designee. For example, Kathleen Sebelius, former President Barack Obama's Health Department secretary, said: recently warned Kennedy said that in his role, he might “ultimately end up killing someone.”
Howard Lutnick, Trump's transition co-chair, has completely ruled out the possibility of Kennedy getting a Cabinet post, suggesting that Kennedy might lead some kind of committee.
Selfie in the elevator
Before entering the stadium, Trump Jr. posted a selfie of his crew packed into an elevator on Instagram. This included at least one member of President Trump's Secret Service.
Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, an internet services and web hosting company used by Truth Social and other right-wing sites, was at the center of the shot.
Trump was seen smiling in the background near Gabbard, Musk, Kid Rock and Johnson.
Politicians and celebrities too
Johnson later posted a photo of himself at the venue with country musician and thrash rapper Jelly Roll and Kid Rock, with Trump and conservative commentator Dan Bongino conversing in the background.
The Republican House speaker was spending time at Mar-a-Lago with President Trump as they explored future legislative direction. Congress has until the end of next month to avert a government shutdown.
Next year, key provisions of President Trump's 2017 tax cuts will expire, as will the Affordable Care Act's enhanced subsidies. Additionally, Congress will once again face a fight over the debt ceiling.
Ironically, many of the politicians who aligned themselves with Trump, including Kennedy, Musk and Gabbard, once considered themselves members of the Democratic Party.
