Before Donald Trump capped off the Republican National Convention with his speech accepting the party’s nomination for president, professional wrestler Hulk Hogan took the stage.
Trump seemed to really appreciate Hogan’s speech, delivered in the wrestler’s over-the-top passionate style. During the speech, the Hulkster even did his trademark T-shirt rip, discarding a black “Real Americans” muscle shirt to reveal a red Trump-Vance T-shirt underneath.
“They tried to kill the next president of the United States. Enough was enough, and I said, let Trumpamania run wild, brother. Let Trumpamania rule again. Let Trumpamania make America great again!” Hogan shouted, pointing at the crowd, who responded with chants of “USA, USA!”
Hulk Hogan at the RNC Convention:
— Yashar Ali ???? (@yashar) July 19, 2024
“When they took a shot at my hero….”
Hogan then rips off his shirt to reveal a Trump/Vance shirt. pic.twitter.com/EnzzGIwvm8
Trump appreciated Hogan’s theatrics so much that he pumped his fist and blew kisses at the former wrestler.
LMFAOOOOOOO https://t.co/ztnA5ivUWw pic.twitter.com/MQgM7QhL9X
— kate bush's husband (@airbagged) July 19, 2024
Why Hogan was at the RNC to begin with isn’t known, although it may have had something to do with his relationship with right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, who funded his lawsuit against Gawker Media over the leak of a sex tape. Or it might have been because of Trump’s long relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment. Either way, Hogan’s job was to hype up the RNC crowd of “Real Americans,” and he succeeded, only for Trump to deliver a speech that went on way too long.
