Both Aaron Rodgers and Donald Trump Jr. were spotted at the same MMA event after the NFL star appeared to diss the former US president earlier in June.
The New York Jets quarterback sat next to former Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey at UFC 303 in Las Vegas, while Trump Jr was with his own entourage at the T- Mobile Arena.
The pair, who are not friends, were not the only high-profile names in the ring for the main event between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.
Recent NBA championship-winning coach Joe Mazzulla was also there along with golfer Jon Rahm and Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds.
Rodgers responded to claims that he apparently ignored Trump Jr’s father, Donald Sr, at UFC 302 on June 1 by posting a photo of himself shaking the Republican’s hand a day later.
Aaron Rodgers with former NFL star Marcedes Lewis (right) at UFC 303 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Donald Trump Jr. gave a thumbs up when he was seen ringside. He and Rodgers are big UFC fans.
Rodgers did not greet Donald Trump Sr. when the former president stopped by UFC 302 on June 1.
A clip of Rodgers sitting at the event as Trump Sr. made his way to his seat had initially gone viral on social media in early June.
The footage shows the Super Bowl champion looking on from his chair as several UFC fans around him bow to honor and salute the 2024 US presidential candidate.
The awkward confrontation between Trump Sr. and Rodgers couldn’t have come at a better time for the former league MVP, who previously said he was considering running as Robert F. Kennedy’s vice president in the independent’s bid to win the White House this fall. .
Lawyer and businesswoman Nicole Shanahan eventually got the job, but Rodgers said: “I love Bobby very much. We had a couple of very nice conversations.
”But in reality there were two options: retire and be his vice president or continue playing. And I wanted to keep playing…”
Rodgers shared a photo of himself shaking Trump’s hand after rumors that he ignored him.
Rodgers sat next to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey while waiting for the UFC 303 main card.
In May, Rodgers distanced himself from Democrats and US President Joe Biden by praising Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with Tucker Carlson.
At the beginning of their talk, the former Green Bay Packers broadcaster told the former Fox News political commentator: “You did one of the most controversial acts, in some ways… not to me… (but it’s) the most controversial” interviews in the last I don’t know how long, when you went to Russia and you “did” Putin.
“How was your comeback? Because everyone who saw the interview said: first of all, it was amazing.”
“Secondly, Putin turned out to be an interesting, thoughtful and intelligent individual,” he added.
Golfer Jon Rahm was also among the high-profile athletes at the UFC event in Sin City.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who is coming off an NBA championship, was also there.
Rodgers, who has also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside Carlson, also criticized Joe Biden’s mental faculties and questioned the direction in which U.S. policy is headed.
“You wonder if they’re seeing how far they can push the population until someone starts laughing, like you’re joking,” Carlson joked about Democrats under the Biden administration.
“Sometimes it seems that way,” Rodgers agreed. “Like, ‘What if we did this? Would anyone give a damn? No? Now let’s try this here… Let’s put Joe Biden on the list.’
‘Hope for? This guy who can’t even walk here? Who sucks his pants from time to time?
