Trump and Hulk Hogan forged a decadeslong bond based on wrestling, reality stardom and politics
WASHINGTON AP One was a businessman turned reality TV star twice elected president The other was a professional wrestler who became politically operational later in life Donald Trump and Hulk Hogan s paths first crossed at a late s wrestling event at one of Trump s Atlantic City New Jersey hotels kicking off a more than three-decadelong friendship that was marked by their obvious career parallels Both were s celebrities who ascertained greater fame in the world of reality television before wielding their influence in politics Just over a year before his death Thursday Hogan delivered a rousing speech at the Republican National Convention in July in Milwaukee during which he dramatically ripped off his T-shirt to reveal another one bearing the Trump-Vance campaign logo and endorsed his hero Trump Hogan mentioned he was motivated by the attempted assassination of Trump days earlier at a campaign rally in Butler Pennsylvania What happened last week when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next president of the United States enough was enough and I stated Let Trumpamania run wild brother Let Trumpamania rule again let Trumpamania make America great again Hogan announced On Thursday Trump mourned his strong tough smart friend who died of a heart attack in Clearwater Florida He was We lost a great friend the present day the Hulkster Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way Strong tough smart but with the biggest heart Trump wrote on his social media site using the acronym for his Make America Great Again campaign slogan He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention that was one of the highlights of the entire week Trump disclosed He entertained fans from all over the World and the cultural impact he had was massive Trump offered warm best wishes and love to Hogan s widow Sky and disclosed he will be greatly missed The official White House account on X shared a photo of a suited Trump and Hogan wearing a Trump-Vance campaign T-shirt with the sleeves cut off with their arms clasped as if they were wrestling The caption reported Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed and included a red heart emoji Trump went on to enjoy a long association with professional wrestling and particular of its top personnel including the husband and wife duo of Vince and Linda McMahon the founders of World Wrestling Entertainment Linda McMahon served Trump in both of his administrations and is as of now coaching secretary after heading up the Small Business Administration in his first term In Trump was inducted into the celebrity wing of WWE s Hall of Fame In Milwaukee Hogan announced he had known Trump for more than years and talked about how he won wrestling s world title as the future president sat ringside during a WrestleMania event at Trump Plaza hotel and casino in Atlantic City I was bleeding like a pig and I won the world title right in front of Donald J Trump and you know something he s going to win in November Hogan stated at the convention Hogan also addressed thousands at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden last October After Trump was reelected Hogan was among thousands of supporters who went to Trump s achievement rally at a Washington sports arena on the eve of the presidential inauguration in January Source
