Wrestling great Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt to expose a tank top from Trump-Vance during a wild onstage speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention.
“Let Trumpmania make America great again,” Hogan shouted as the crowd cheered, while the recently retired political campaigner called Trump, a longtime partner, a “hero” and a “gladiator.”
Hogan said Attendees at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee were “real Americans,” suggesting they should refer to themselves as “Trumpists” if the Republican candidate is re-elected in the fall.
He called Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance “the best team of my lifetime” and warned that they were “getting ready to right this country for all of you real Americans.”
“So all you criminals, scoundrels, scoundrels, drug dealers and corrupt politicians, you have one question to answer me: What are you going to do when Donald Trump and all the Trump maniacs turn on you, brother?”
Wrestling great Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt to expose a tank top of Trump and Pence during a wild onstage speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention.
Hulk Hogan waves to the crowd as he makes his Republican National Convention debut Thursday night in Milwaukee.
Hulk Hogan took the stage holding the American flag after declaring himself a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Hogan walked on stage carrying an American flag and wearing an American flag T-shirt and a blue blazer.
But that professional look didn’t last long, as the wrestler tore off his top layer and flexed his muscles, marching alongside the podium.
“You know, Trumpites, I didn’t come here as Hulk Hogan but I had to give you a little taste,” he joked.
He then introduced himself to the audience as Terry Bollea and as a person who has known Trump for about 35 years.
The Republican nominee returned to Fiserv Forum for a second time Thursday night, this time accompanied by most of his family members, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, who was making her Milwaukee debut.
“I just had a flashback, this is really exciting,” he told the audience. “The last time I was on stage, Donald Trump was sitting in the front row at Trump Plaza,” Hogan recalled.
Trump Plaza was one of the former president’s casino hotels in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“I was bleeding like a pig,” Hogan continued. “And I won the world title right in front of Donald J. Trump!”
An old photo of Donald Trump (left) and wrestling great Hulk Hogan (right) during WrestleMania in 1987
Before taking the stage, Hogan told Fox News’ Bret Baier that Saturday’s assassination attempt spurred him into action, as he had not previously publicly supported the former president despite their decades-long relationship and Trump’s other close ties to WWE.
“Well, Bret, I got tired of being silent,” Hogan said. “I sat back and watched as borders collapsed, the economy collapsed, gas prices plummeted, food prices plummeted, everything turned upside down.”
“And when my hero Donald Trump was attacked, I realized I could no longer remain silent,” Hogan said.
Hogan posted a message on his Facebook page on Saturday that included the now-iconic image of Trump, with blood splattered on his face and his fist raised.
“I was deeply moved when this happened,” Hogan said. “And when I saw him standing there with his fist raised and the blood on his face like a warrior, like a leader, I realized that this is what America needs.”
“I knew it from the beginning,” the famous fighter continued. “I was afraid to speak up, but when I saw him, I realized that this is the leader this country needs to get back on track.”