Donald Trump told former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov that he will stop the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, during an appearance at UFC 302 on Saturday.
The former president of the United States received a standing ovation when he entered the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, alongside UFC CEO Dana White, to watch the event.
It comes after current US President Joe Biden urged Hamas to accept a new peace deal offered by Israel to end the conflict in Gaza on Friday, stating: “It is time for the war to end.”
Trump’s appearance at the MMA event was also one of the first times the former president was seen since he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday during his hush money trial. It means he became the first former US president to face a criminal trial and could alter his career to return to the White House.
The 77-year-old was photographed raising his hand in thanks to the crowd as he made his way to the octagon. He was later seen on video talking to Nurmagomedov.
The pair shook the former UFC lightweight champion’s hand and appeared to say, “I know you will stop the war in Palestine.”
Former US President Donald Trump (right) appeared to tell Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) that he will ‘stop the war in Palestine’
Trump (right) received a standing ovation from fans at UFC 302 on Saturday, after stepping into the ring with UFC CEO Dana White.
The 77-year-old former US president responded by saying: “We will stop him.” I will stop the war.’
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023. More than 35,000 deaths have been reported in Gaza as a result of the conflict. At least 1,000 people have also died in Israel since October.
On Friday, President Biden outlined a three-phase plan that would begin with an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and conclude with the reconstruction of Gaza. It came after an Israeli airstrike last week hit a camp housing displaced Palestinians near Rafah in the southern part of the strip. Following the devastating attack, the Hamas-run Health Ministry stated that at least 45 people were killed in the incident, while many more were injured.
Hamas had responded positively to Biden’s proposals and according to ReutersHamas said it was “ready to engage positively and constructively.”
Meanwhile, Trump was seen on Saturday watching the MMA event in New Jersey, in which Dustin Poririer suffered a fifth-round submission loss against Russian fighter Islam Makhachev, who retained his lightweight title.
As Trump intends to run in the 2024 US presidential election, he also created a new Tik Tok account. He posted the first video of him Saturday night inside the venue, which shows White announcing the former president’s new TikTok channel.
Trump (left) entered the Prudential Center alongside UFC CEO Dana White (right) on Saturday.
Trump (pictured) watched as Islam Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier in the night’s main event.
Last week, Joe Biden outlined a three-point plan to end the ongoing conflict in Palestine and urged Hamas to accept a peace deal offered by Israel.
The conflict, which began on October 7, has claimed the lives of more than 35,000 people in Gaza
The 13-second video shows Trump entering the arena while greeting fans. He also shook hands and took selfies with several members of the public.
“The president is now on TikTok,” White said while standing next to Trump during the video.
The Republican has amassed a staggering 3.4 million followers on the platform since posting his first video on Saturday, despite previously attempting to ban the app because its parent company is based in China.
At the end of the video, which shows the couple walking before 17,000 fans applauding the president, Trump leans into the camera and asks, “It was a good walk, right?”
He captioned the video: “Launching my TikTok at UFC 302.”
Last week, a jury of seven men and five women in Manhattan Criminal Court found the former president guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Despite calling the verdict a “disgrace”, Trump’s presidential campaign raised $52.8 million (£41.49 million) online in 24 hours after the verdict was announced, according to the Financial times.
Trump (center) was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records by a Manhattan court on Thursday.
Speaking outside the court after the verdict was handed down, Trump said: “This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge.”
‘The real verdict will be on November 5th by the people and they know what happened here, and everyone knows what happened here.
‘We didn’t do anything wrong. I am a very innocent man. Okay, I’m fighting for our country, I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our entire country is being manipulated right now. “This was done by the Biden administration to hurt or injure an opponent, a political opponent.”
He added: ‘I think it’s just a shame. And we will keep fighting and fighting until the end, and we will win because our country has gone to hell.’