Former President Donald Trump was greeted with huge cheers in Miami Saturday night as he sat in the front row of UFC 287 alongside the organization’s president, Dana White.
The recently accused presidential candidate was seen sitting ringside at the Cassia Center on Saturday night.
Join other celebrities including Kid Rock and Mike Tyson to watch not only the main event between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, but also the fight between MAGA supporter Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns.
Trump and White have, over the years, developed a close relationship with the UFC boss and he even endorsed the former rookie host at the 2016 Republican National Convention. The former president also has a friendship with Masvidal, who retired Saturday night after his third loss in a recent losing streak.
It is worth noting that Melania Trump, 52, who was absent from the fight, has not appeared since March 30, the night the former president was impeached.
Donald Trump poses with Dana White, Kid Rock and Mike Tyson at a UFC match Saturday night in Miami
This is the last time Melania has been seen in public, on Thursday, March 30 — the night it was announced that Trump would be impeached by Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg.
Don Trump Jr. was also present on the night of the fight and was seen at various points talking with his father.
Earlier reports suggested Melania would stand by her husband, despite her husband’s continued anger over hush money he allegedly paid porn star Stormy Daniels for a one-night stand she allegedly had, which Trump denies.
However, Melania was not at his side when he turned himself in to authorities last Tuesday, nor was she there during the speech he gave from Mar-a-Lago later in the evening.
Back in the Octagon, after Santiago Ponzenepo’s defeat, Kevin Holland walked over to talk to Trump. Holland also appeared to exchange words with the 76-year-old across the cage between rounds.
Last Tuesday, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying trade records about silent payments, most of which were made to porn star Stormy Daniels, during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The former first lady now faces up to a year and a half of airing her dirty laundry in public, repeatedly reminding the world of her husband’s infidelity as the criminal case continues in New York.
However, Melania’s no-show came in stark contrast to last week, when a photo surfaced of the couple with friends at Trump’s Palm Beach resort, despite recent news of his imminent conviction and arrest.
It should be noted that in January 2018, days after The Wall Street Journal revealed Trump’s alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, the first lady canceled plans to accompany her husband to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. She blamed it on “scheduling and logistics”.
Donald Trump Jr. was seen chatting with his father at the fight Saturday night
Trump was also seen ringside with Mike Tyson
Kid Rock whispers something in Donald Trump’s ear
The recently indicted former president appeared happy and relaxed at the tumultuous event
The crowd gave a huge ovation to the incumbent presidential candidate at the start of the evening
Former President Donald Trump in a UFC fight in Miami on Saturday night
Last Wednesday night at the Mar-a-Lago Ballroom, three of the Trumps’ five children — Don Jr., Eric, and Tiffany — sat front row with their significant others: Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lara Trump, and Michael Poulos.
But Melania Trump, his wife of 18 years, and Ivanka Trump, their eldest and some would say, his favorite child, were notably absent.
Ivanka said she’s done with politics, and wants to focus on raising her son and daughter with husband Jared Kushner, who was recently treated for thyroid cancer.
Trump’s youngest son, Barron, has also disappeared, but the 17-year-old, who is still in high school, is rarely seen in public with the rest of the family.
Oddly enough, Viktor Knavs, Melania’s father, sat between the former president’s two sons in the front row, a prominent position that put him directly in the eyes of the cameras.
Melania and Donald married in that room in 2005. But when the former president emerged from behind the curtains to speak to the faithful, he was flanked by security and his aides, not his tall, glamorous wife.
It is unclear why she was not there. She is said to be hurt and angry over allegations that Trump had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels but is said to be ready to support him.
She still won’t leave him. This is an exchange marriage, she knew what she was getting into when she married Donald. ‘The way for her to survive is to act like it never happened,’ a former aide said of Melania’s situation.
The former first lady’s former aide has claimed that Melania is really angry about Stormy Daniels’ sexual allegations once again.
That contrasts starkly with last week, when, hours after the indictment was announced, Melania, dressed in a bright red dress, was next to her husband in a public display of strength. The couple dined with friends at their usual, highly visible Mar-a-Lago table.
But Melania was left out of her husband’s speech on Tuesday, as other members of his family hailed their support. He checked out Ivanka and Barron, his son with Melania, but not his wife of 18 years.
She was present in November when Trump announced he would seek a second term in the White House. She has never been a fan of the campaign trail nor is she expected to turn out to pleased voters.
Before the indictment was announced last week, a source told PEOPLE that Melania, 52, “lives her own life” and “still feels happy” in Mar-a-Lago, but “she remains angry and doesn’t want to hear” about the alleged $130,000 payment. to daniels.
