Terry Gene Bollea, known to generations of Americans and wrestling fans around the world as Hulk Hogan, reportedly died Thursday morning in Florida at the age of 71.
Authorities responded to a call at Hogan’s Clearwater residence around 10 a.m. for a suspected cardiac arrest. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A larger-than-life figure in American popular culture, Hogan was not only a wrestling legend but, in his later years, a vocal supporter of conservative values and a proud ally of President Donald J. Trump.
In a tribute posted to Truth Social just hours after Hogan’s passing, Trump remembered the wrestling icon as a “great friend” and a patriot with “the biggest heart.”
“We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,” Trump wrote. “He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the world, and the cultural impact he had was massive.”
Trump extended his condolences to Hogan’s wife, Sky, and the rest of his family: “To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!”
Hogan’s most recent appearance in the national spotlight came just last year at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Only days after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Hogan delivered a fiery, emotional speech in support of the president, bringing the convention crowd to its feet.
“What happened last week when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next president of the United States, I said, ‘Enough was enough!’” Hogan thundered onstage.
Then, in a moment that instantly went viral, he tore off his blazer and ripped open a black T-shirt, revealing a sleeveless “Trump/Vance” shirt underneath — a dramatic callback to his signature wrestling theatrics.
He closed his remarks with a battle cry: “Let Trump-a-Mania run wild, brother! Let Trump-a-Mania rule again! Let Trump-a-Mania make America great again!”
While many knew Hogan as the muscle-bound superstar who defined professional wrestling in the 1980s and ’90s, others came to respect him later in life as a man unafraid to speak his mind and defend traditional American values.
His death leaves a void not just in the world of sports entertainment, but in a movement that embraced him as one of its own.
As America reflects on the loss of one of its most iconic cultural figures, many will remember Hulk Hogan not just for his championship belts or catchphrases — but for his unwavering belief in strength, loyalty, and country.
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