On November 16, 2024, while UFC 309 was going on in the cage, it appeared that real action was happening by the ringside, where Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump were seated. Unfazed by the battle being waged right before his eyes, Musk was completely absorbed in his phone. His laughter and huge grins indicated one thing for certain—he was watching some pure gold of the internet’s meme universe. More than punches and takedowns, Madison Square Garden offered billionaire distractions, political seriousness, and a viral internet meme.
Having Musk next to Trump, the latter could not help but notice the inattentiveness of the former. He leaned down and pointed to the octagon, telling Musk to pay attention to the match. That particular action, caught in a video, immediately materialized into the definition of internet entertainment. Social media was once again churning reactions, memes, and jokes about Musk neglecting UFC 309 just to scroll through memes and Trump as an unwitting babysitter.
The now-viral video was shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user, @SawyerMerritt, joking about Musk going through the rabbit hole of memes dedicated to him. True to form, Musk joined in on the fun, replying:
“I’m watching myself watch this 😂.”
Trump’s thunderous entrance
To Trump, UFC 309 was not only entertainment but a triumph celebration. Arriving at the event for the first time after the victory over Kamala Harris on November 6, the president-elect was welcomed by a cheerful standing ovation. The broadcast team of the UFC described the reception as “thunderous”, with chants of “USA!” ringing through the arena.
Trump arrived with a star-studded entourage: The list includes Dana White – the President of UFC, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Speaker Mike Johnson, Kid Rock, and last but not least Elon Musk.
Memes meet politics
The excessive symbiotic relationship between Musk and Trump has been an interesting topic in the past few weeks. Both have been spotted recently in public, from Texas for the launch of Musk’s Starship rocket to Mar-a-Lago meetings. According to the reports, Musk has been counseling Trump on which people should be appointed to the Cabinet, a fact that has made Trump’s insiders uncomfortable.
Musk’s presence has been an issue with Trump insiders such as Boris Epshteyn who allegedly had disagreements with Musk over staffing. Allegedly, Trump listens to Musk but the tycoon’s influence threatens to undermine traditional partnerships in Trump’s team.
Moreover, Musk’s business relationship with China has been a subject of controversy. While Trump has taken some aggressive posturing towards tariffs and trade disputes, this is not really in harmony with Musk’s approach. A conflict of interest could be brought out to jeopardize their participating camaraderie in the coming months.
A friendship in the spotlight
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For now, though, the Musk-Trump bromance is blooming, both sides loving the attention they can get from the other. But as with all high-profile relationships, the question remains: how long does it take for it to no longer feel exciting and new?
For one night at least, the two were a ringside show. Between Musk scrolling through memes and Trump never far from the highlights of the match, UFC 309 was not only the fighters’ fight—it was the fight between two polarizing figures of modern discourse.
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