Amid thunderous applause and the pulsing rhythm of “Macho Man” echoing throughout the Wells Fargo Center, former President Donald Trump made a dramatic entrance at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Saturday evening. Accompanied by close political allies and a now-familiar figure in his expanding orbit—billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk—Trump absorbed the enthusiasm of a predominantly conservative audience. At the same time, questions swirled regarding the deepening visibility of Musk’s association with the former president.
President Trump at the Division I NCAA Wrestling Championship. 🇺🇸🏆 pic.twitter.com/aywIdBMjcy
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 23, 2025
Attendees from wrestling strongholds such as Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Missouri largely remained loyal to Trump. Yet conversations throughout the evening revealed nuanced and sometimes conflicted opinions about Musk’s role. Some supporters expressed confusion; others voiced outright skepticism.
“I’m not a big fan of Elon,” Blaize Cabell, a coach from Iowa, told The New Times. He criticized Musk’s business strategies and cited recent federal layoffs linked to the billionaire’s cost-cutting initiatives. “He’s making a lot of callous cuts,” Cabell added.
While Musk’s official involvement in any future Trump administration remains ambiguous, his recurring presence at high-profile events and social media activity—such as reposting moments with Trump from the arena floor—has not gone unnoticed. “He’s just always there,” remarked David Berkovich, a graduate student and wrestler from Brooklyn.
Other attendees viewed Musk’s growing influence as overstepping. “It’s like someone reaching into a cookie jar they don’t belong in,” said Julia Sirois, a marketing associate from New Jersey. Her partner, finance broker Bobby Coll, noted that defending Musk’s behavior is becoming increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Trump mingled with political allies, including Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan—a former wrestling coach and two-time champion—while Musk scrolled through his phone in close proximity.
The match saw one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson won the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship in a stunning victory against Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champ Gable Steveson of the University of Minnesota.
"WYATT HENDRICKSON JUST BEAT GABLE STEVESON!!!!!" #NCAAWrestling x 🎥 ESPN/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/3y22fGCUHw
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 23, 2025
Wyatt Hendrickson, US Air Force Second Lieutenant. 🇺🇸
(2) Hendrickson salutes President @realDonaldTrump after upsetting (1) Gable Steveson and claiming the heavyweight national title.#NCAAWrestling x 🎥 ESPN/ESPN+ / @CowboyWrestling pic.twitter.com/OR3uRiNwXp
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 23, 2025
After the matches, the president left to loud cheers, shaking hands.
