President Donald Trump received a mostly enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival at the NCAA wrestling championships on Saturday night, marking his second appearance at the event in three years.
Trump made his way into Wells Fargo Center not long after 7pm ET, cutting off an interview with a wrestler that was being broadcast on ESPN.
The Republican leader was greeted with cheers and applause as he entered the arena, acknowledging the crowd with waves and fist pumps. While there were some boos heard, they were overshadowed by chants of ‘USA’.
Once inside, Trump greeted many of his supporters with handshakes before taking his place in a VIP section adjacent to the mat, where he was seated alongside Senator Dave McCormick and Dina Powell.
Trump’s entourage also included Elon Musk, Congressman Jim Jordan, who is a two-time NCAA national champion wrestler, chief of staff Susie Wiles and Outkick founder Clay Travis.
Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci made a beeline for Trump on Saturday night just moments after becoming the first-ever five-time national champion.
Donald Trump got a standing ovation as he arrived at the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Fans filmed the president and chanted ‘USA’ as he walked out to a standing ovation
Trump then took his seat in a VIP section by the mat alongside Senator Dave McCormick
Trump shakes hands with Elon Musk and the rest of his entourage, who were sat by the mat
Congressman Jim Jordan, a two-time NCAA national champion wrestler, speaks with Musk
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was also among Trump’s entourage at the event
Footage posted by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shows Starocci shaking hands with Trump and handing over his trophy to the president before they posed for photos together.
It was a moment that sent fans wild on social media, with one commenting: ‘So cool! Love seeing all these historic moments.’
‘Love this video! The people’s President’, another added.
A third fan posted: ‘That could be a life-changing moment for that young man. Winning the championship will be important, I’m sure; but to have actually shook hands with, and got to put your arm around the legend?’
Another wrote: ‘Once again President Trump proves he’s a man of the people.’
Hours earlier, Trump was pictured landing at Philadelphia International Airport on Air Force One. He was greeted by Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin and his wife Christie.
The A-list entourage was in Philadelphia to watch Penn State try and secure its fourth straight men’s team title.
It is the latest example of how Trump as mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events.
Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci shook hands with Trump and handed him his trophy
The Republican president spent Friday night at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 70 miles northeast of Philadelphia, on what was his first visit there of his second term.
‘We’re going to the big fight. The reason I’m going is in Philadelphia. They have the NCAA, world, wrestling for college. And I’ve always supported the wrestlers,’ Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday evening.
‘I want to support them. These are the great college wrestlers from the various schools.’
In the two-plus months since returning to the White House, Trump attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Florida, where his motorcade drove a portion of the track. While president-elect he went to a UFC fight in New York.
That’s more travel for sports than for policy announcements or official duties, though a long January swing took Trump to tour damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and wildfires in Los Angeles.
He then gave a speech and visited the floor of Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino before heading to Doral, Florida, to address a House Republican policy conference.
Trump arrived in Philadelphia for his return to the major wrestling event earlier on Saturday
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin and his wife Christie were there to greet the president
A member of the secret service stands outside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia
Trump has long built his public and political persona around sporting events, and relishes turning up at live events to hear cheers from the crowd, even if some in attendance boo him.
He also has signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’a sports – an action which he points to frequently to fire up his core supporters.
The president has used most Saturdays and Sundays to play golf at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, though he also sometimes remained in Washington to give weekend speeches.
Trump was a candidate when he went to the 2023 NCAA wrestling championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
