Inside President Donald Trump’s close circle of sporting pals with boxing, golf and WWE stars like Jake and Logan Paul
FORGET the Village People, it was the sporting world that offered the biggest presence at the Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The 78-year-old was sworn in as president among his closest pals from the world of football, boxing, UFC, and the WWE.
Intriguingly, Fifa head honcho Gianni Infantino was present at the event in Washington D.C.
Afterwards, he took to Instagram to thank Trump saying: “What an incredible honour and privilege it is for FIFA and me, as FIFA President, to be acknowledged by President Donald J. Trump during his victory rally speech in Washington DC.”
While former foes Mike Tyson and Jake Paul put their differences aside to buddy up at the party.
Incredibly, Paul hoisted ‘Iron Mike’ up on his shoulders as the pair were in celebratory mood.
In the past year, Trump has been endorsed by several of the world’s leading sports men and women.
He has a long-lasting relationship with golf, don’t forget his name is on 17 golf properties around the world.
And he claims to play off a three handicap, and is pals with Bryson DeChambeau who joined him on stage at his Presidential Election Party in Florida.
We run through the sporting stars who have honoured the 47th President of the United States.
‘Chief campaigner’
A familiar sight along the campaign trail in the past 12 months, sat next to Elon Musk, was UFC CEO Dana White.
Trump and White’s views have consistently aligned throughout this process.
During the early years of UFC, when White was building his MMA empire, Trump was a huge advocate of the sport.
He attended fights and promoted the franchise.
In turn, White has supported BOTH of Trump’s election bids.
At a rally, before his inauguration, White appeared on stage calling Trump “a winner”.
He added: “He’s the toughest, most resilient person that I’ve ever met and nothing was going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country he loves.
“He embodies what being an American is all about. We are the most toughest, resilient people on Earth and nothing can stop us when we unite.”
It’s no wonder White’s stable of fighters are also following suit.
We even saw Jon Jones replicate the now iconic YMCA dance after defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
In the past, White has explained why he believes UFC stars have levitated towards supporting his pal.
“If you saw the election, the entire country relates to Trump right now,” White said, via MMA Fighting. “Won all the swing states. The only states she won were the ones you didn’t need I.D. to vote in.
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“It would’ve been interesting if you needed I.D. I feel like the whole country… I feel like somebody hit the reset button.
“However this election went – everyone was hoping it was a blowout. Either way. So there would be no more bulls***. What I think is, everybody is tired of the bulls***. We’re all tired.
“We all just want to live our lives and run our businesses and raise our families and do all that s*** and hopefully all this stuff will simmer down in the next four years.”
Boxers’ union
Another combat sport that has embraced Trump over the years is boxing.
He put money into Mike Tyson’s 1988 fight with Michael Spink, arranging the fight at his Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and the pair have been pals since.
Trump backed the former heavyweight champion when he was convicted of rape and sent to prison, which Mike revealed in his podcast.
While in 2020, Tyson also praised his friend for his journey from business tycoon to president.
Jake Paul hasn’t been shy of declaring his support for Trump either.
“Look at the facts. Think for yourself. Don’t be a sheep in this world full of sheep,” he said in a video shared on X before election night.
And as Trump was sworn into the Oval Office, Paul aimed barbs at Trump’s haters. Paul was joined at the inauguration by brother Logan.
“Any American who isn’t in support of Trump after this speech simply hates America and doesn’t want what’s best for this country and the world,” Jake wrote on X.
“Today is about togetherness in every way,” he added in another post. “Fists down, unity up. Honored to be here. God Bless America.”
The WWE played its part too…
NFL legend Brett Favre and NHL all-time great Wayne Gretzky are champions of Trump.
But, yet again, it was the contact sport of wrestling where the more vocal supporters came from.
Don’t forget, Trump is a WWE Hall of Famer – famous for supporting the organisation in its early inception by hosting WrestleMania in the late 80s at his hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
This, in turn, helped him build up a friendship with Vince McMahon – the co-founder – which got McMahon’s wife, Linda into his cabinet as Secretary of Education.
Amusingly, Trump appeared in a storyline at WrestleMania 23 where he shaved McMahon’s head in the ring after the ex-CEO and chairman lost a bet in a fight dubbed ‘Battle of the Billionaires’.
The sport’s biggest stars also put their money where the mouth is by campaigning for Trump.
None more so than Hulk Hogan, who appeared at last summer’s Republican National Convention, where he performed his party trick – ripping off his shirt, only to reveal a bright-red Trump 2024 vest.
He explained: “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!”
Among sport’s greatest, it clearly already has.