President Donald Trump was hailed with massive cheers in Philadelphia Saturday, as he attended the NCAA Men’s Division I Wrestling Championship.
The crowd rose to its feet and heartily applauded Trump as he entered the Wells Fargo Arena and stood on the event floor for about a minute waving to the onlookers.
Broadcaster ESPN even interrupted an interview with national champion Carter Starocci to cut to the president’s grand entrance.
Trump was cheered by the crowd as he entered. AP
As Trump took his seat the crowd chanted “U-S-A, U-S-A.”
Later, Starocci would visit with President Trump, shaking his hand and posing for photos with his freshly awarded championship trophy.
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt then posted a picture on X of Trump giving Starocci a good-natured wrestling embrace in the arena under the header “Coolest. President. Ever.”
Trump was accompanied by DOGE chief Elon Musk and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Jordan won the NCAA Division I men’s wrestling title twice as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later served as an assistant wrestling coach for Ohio State University.
Two of the sport’s biggest stars were thrilled the president would be in attendance for their final match.
Elon Musk and Rep. Jim Jordan joined the fun. AFP via Getty Images
Carter Starocci of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a win over Parker Keckeisen of the Northern Iowa Panthers during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Trump poses with Penn State’s Carter Starocci after the wrestler’s historic 5th championship win. Twitter
“We’re going to put on a good show for him. Him showing up Saturday night, he’s coming to watch some of the best wrestling on earth, and we’re going to give that to him,” Gable Steveson, heavyweight for the Minnesota Gophers, said Wednesday at a press conference the York Daily Record reported.
Penn State’s Starocci, who became the first five-time Division I national champion on Saturday, was also pumped for the prez to be in attendance.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he told the paper Wednesday. “[President Trump] came to nationals my sophomore year and it was really cool. He’s obviously a big fan of combat sports, he’s at all the UFC events. It’s good for our sport.”
President Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Vince Robinson of the NC State Wolfpack celebrates a win with his coaches during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
President Trump has made a point to attend several high profile sporting events since the start of his term.
In February, Trump became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.
Later that month, the commander in chief attended NASCAR’s Daytona 500.
Prior to being inaugurated, Trump attended the 125th Army-Navy football game with a cohort of political allies in December — as well as UFC 309, in November, where he sat ringside for the festivities.
