Hulk Hogan Endorses Trump at RNC, Calls Him His ‘Hero’
Hulk Hogan, the renowned entertainer who captivated wrestling fans in the 1980s and 1990s, entered a new arena on Thursday night: the political stage at the Republican National Convention.
Hogan addressed the RNC shortly before Donald Trump was slated to accept the party’s nomination, delivering one of the most energetic speeches of the convention. He declared Trump his “hero” and a “gladiator” before dramatically removing his shirt, much like his iconic wrestling entrances. The convention crowd responded enthusiastically to his speech.
Hogan’s speech came just days after a shooting at a rally in 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?” Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, asked. “Enough was enough. Run wild brother. Let Trump-a-mania rule again.”
Hogan then tore off his shirt, revealing a Trump-Vance shirt underneath, echoing his signature wrestling entrance. He stated that the assassination attempt on Trump was the moment he decided to speak out: “I tried to stay out of politics, but after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent,” he said.
“Over my career, I’ve been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet,” Hogan continued. “Donald Trump is the toughest of them all. They’ve thrown everything at Donald Trump, all the investigations, the impeachments, the court cases, and he’s still standing and kicking their butts.”
Hogan’s presence at the RNC added a touch of spectacle and nostalgia to an event already known for its theatrics. Hogan joined a lineup of speakers that also included Linda McMahon, the matriarch of the wrestling empire, and UFC President Dana White.
Trump has long been an admirer of professional wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, declaring in his acceptance speech: “I consider this to be my greatest honor of all.” He’s participated in several combat sporting events over the years, including “Battle of the Billionaires” at WWE’s WrestleMania in 2007 when Trump defeated Vince McMahon, co-founder of WWE. Trump attended a UFC fight just two days after his in May and was met with a thunderous ovation from the packed crowd.