Joe Rogan got a front-row surprise at UFC 309. On November 16, 2024, during the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight at Madison Square Garden, United States President Donald Trump walked right up to Rogan. The UFC commentator spilled the details on his podcast. It’s a moment nobody saw coming.
Trump’s Big Entrance
UFC 309 was already a huge night. Jon Jones defended his heavyweight title with a third-round knockout over Miocic. But the crowd buzzed when Trump showed up cage-side with UFC CEO Dana White. Rogan was calling the fight with Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier. Then Trump made a beeline for him.
“Dude, it was like, dude… Dude!.. And then I see Trump come up, I saw the whole fuking thing Trump walking straight to you and gave you a big fuking hug and he’s whispering sweet nothings in your ear. I’m like, ‘Holy, they’re like, ‘This sht right here.” Like I was like, ‘What the fck?’ He goes right to you, man. Look at that. He didn’t want to talk to Jon Anik. He [came] right to you,” Rogan said, quoting his friend’s reaction on a recent JRE Fight Companion episode.
It was wild and unexpected.
What Trump Said
Rogan dropped the key detail.
“He basically said, ‘I won him the election,’” he told his podcast crew.
NEW — Joe Rogan Reveals What Trump Whispered in His Ear at UFC 309
“He basically said I won him the election” pic.twitter.com/hRKmgSIfng
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) March 22, 2025
Trump hugged him tight and whispered that in his ear. This links to Rogan endorsing Trump on his show before the 2024 election. That episode, featuring Trump, hit over 40 million views in a day. Trump’s trip to UFC 309, days after winning, tied it all together.
Jones, 37, stayed champ with a 28-1 record. Miocic, 42, lost by knockout again. Trump brought Elon Musk and House Speaker Mike Johnson along, boosting the night’s weight. Rogan’s been a UFC voice since 1997. Trump picking him over Anik and Cormier made it clear who he wanted to see.
Rogan’s podcast has pull. His three-hour talk with Trump covered MMA and politics. Trump credited it for his win. Rogan’s endorsement was a shift from his usual stance. Posts on X noted its impact after the episode aired. Trump’s words at UFC 309 underline that connection.
