Hulk Hogan delivered one of the standout speeches at last year’s Republican National Convention when he dramatically tore his shirt and declared, “Let Trump Mania run to his brothers!”
His somewhat reserved endorsement of former President Trump came after the ex-president distanced himself from the Democratic leanings he once shared during Barack Obama’s presidency.
The wrestling icon, who passed away Thursday in Florida at 71, made a memorable entrance at the convention, revealing a “Trump/Vance” shirt underneath his tank top.
His support for Trump surfaced just days after Trump was tragically shot on stage in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“As a celebrity, I’m trying to step back from politics. But given everything that’s happened in our country over the past few years, I can’t stay silent after last weekend,” Hogan mentioned while introducing Trump.
This is the latest in the death of wrestler Hulk Hogan
“I’ve shared the ring with some of the toughest people around; I know what tough really is. But my brother, Donald Trump, is the toughest of them all,” Hogan stated.
The White House responded to the news with spokesman Harrison Fields sharing a tribute that read, “Rest in peace, brothers.”
Hogan, born Terry Borea, had previously supported Obama but shifted his stance in 2011 when he stepped away from that backing.
He expressed disappointment when Democrats used his entrance theme, “Real American,” without his permission at a White House correspondent’s dinner. “I was a bit irritated that they didn’t ask me to let them use my music,” Hogan told Fox and Friends back in 2011.
Reflecting on his past support for Obama, Hogan said, “I believed in everything he wanted to do.” However, in 2012, he backed Republican Mitt Romney, commending both him and Paul Ryan for their vision of providing America with a “fresh start.”
Hogan remarked, “This is huge. What Romney and Ryan are doing is exciting.” He added, “America has a chance to reinvent itself, as I have. It’s just a fresh start. We need action—actions speak louder than words, and that’s thrilling to me.”
