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The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
From Wrestlemania to MAGA-land: Hulk Hogan and Donald Trump's friendship through the years
President Donald Trump 's decades-long friendship with Hulk Hogan was forged over a love of professional wrestling but developed into a political alliance that eventually culminated in Hogan earning a spot in the president's trusted circle. Beginning in the 1980s, the two men embarked on parallel journeys to ultimate fame in their respective careers while maintaining a relationship that benefitted one another. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, died on July 24 at the age of 71. The president remembered his 'great friend' in a post on Truth Social, calling him 'strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.' 'He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive,' Trump said. 'To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!' A start in the wrestling world Trump and Hogan first met in the 1980s when both were budding celebrities known for their over-the-top ways. Hogan, standing at 6'7' and weighing approximately 300 pounds, was a wrestling star who headlined multiple WrestleMania events, including WrestleMania IV and V held at Trump Plaza in 1989. Trump, a titan of the real estate industry of New York at the time, sponsored the events and sat ringside. 'My first interaction with Trump was WrestleMania four and five, and you know, I didn't think he'd come to the show. But he was there early, came in the dressing room, met all the wrestlers,' Hogan told PBD Podcast last year while recalling his first meeting with Trump. At WrestleMania V, Trump once again sat ringside, this time watching as Hogan defeated André the Giant. 'He's the same guy now that he was back then,' Hogan told PBD Podcast. 'He hasn't changed a bit. I mean, he's just a quality person.' The transition to the MAGA world Hogan wasn't always a MAGA Republican; in fact, he endorsed former president Barack Obama up until his re-election in 2012. After that, Hogan changed his tune and when Trump stepped into the political ring as a candidate contender in 2016, Hogan jumped on board. While he did not issue a public endorsement of Trump until 2024, Hogan said he did support Trump in 2016. The only hint of that Hogan gave publicly was in 2015 when he suggested he could be Trump's running mate. 'I don't want to be in the ring with any candidates, I want to be Trump's running mate," Hogan told TMZ at the time when asked which 2016 candidate he would get into the ring with. "Did you hear that?" he said. "Vice President Hogan?" Ultimately, Trump went with Mike Pence as his running mate. But Hogan would eventually make an appearance on stage with Trump when he spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention and Trump's Madison Square Garden rally. But in between Trump's 2016 presidential win and 2024 presidential win, Hogan experienced some life events that brought him closest to the MAGA world. In 2016, Hogan filed a $100 million lawsuit against former pop culture blog Gawker for publishing an excerpt of his sex tape. The lawsuit was backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, who had also been subjected to gossip spread by Gawker after the online blog outed him. Hogan eventually won the lawsuit, initially for $140 million, but settled with Gawker for $31 million. That ultimately led to Gawker 's closing. The lawsuit occurred at the same time Trump was unleashing his anger at the media, branding many as 'fake news.' Some, including Brian Knappenberger, who directed a documentary on Hogan's lawsuit, believed there were 'direct parallels' between the Gawker suit and Trump's rise to fame. 'MAGA all the way' Hogan decided to use his theatrical personality to endorse and advocate for Trump at the RNC after seeing the president survive an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. 'As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics,' Hogan said on stage at the convention, wearing a red bandana. '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.' Tapping into his entertainment background, Hogan decided to endorse the president by yelling into the microphone while ripping his shirt off with his bare hands to reveal a 'Trump Vance 2024' tank top underneath, flexing his muscles the entire time. 'Let TrumpMania run wild, brother!' he shouted. 'Let TrumpMania rule again! Let TrumpMania make America great again!' In remembering his friend, Trump recalled Hogan's 'absolutely electric speech' at the RNC. 'That was one of the highlights of the entire week,' Trump said after Hogan's death. Hogan tapped into that same energy again in October 2024 – this time wearing a red and yellow feathered boa. 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'' Trump said after his death. 'Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way.'
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Join ‘united opposition front' at own risk, Muda warned
On July 18, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin met with leaders from Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party and Urimai to discuss the proposed united opposition front. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Muda risks eroding its modest support base by aligning with Bersatu on its proposed 'united opposition front', two political analysts have warned. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Azmil Tayeb said joining the pact would tarnish Muda's image as a moderate party. Oh Ei Sun. Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said Muda draws much of its support from middle- to upper-class moderates and liberals in urban and suburban areas. He said this voter demographic tends to abhor the conservative and regressive leanings associated with Perikatan Nasional (PN), the opposition coalition led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. 'By associating itself with PN, Muda risks losing these core supporters,' he told FMT. 'They will make for the doors the moment they hear Muda is affiliating itself with PN.' Azmil Tayeb. Azmil warned Muda against associating itself with far-right parties like Berjasa, Mukhriz Mahathir's Pejuang, and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), led by the controversial Ibrahim Ali. 'In my opinion, this coalition (the united opposition front) has no clear ideology and agenda other than to bring down Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It's an unstable coalition with parties that are so different from one another,' he said. '(Joining it will) reflect badly on Muda's image and reputation as a multiethnic and multireligious party.' Last week, Bersatu's Supreme Council agreed that Muhyiddin should spearhead efforts to build a united opposition front in preparation for the 16th general election. Following that, on July 18, the Bersatu president held a meeting with the heads of various parties opposed to the government, including Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party and P Ramasamy's Urimai. PAS did not attend the meeting, citing 'other commitments' involving its senior leadership. Ramasamy has since expressed his support for the pact, but PSM and Muda said they remain undecided. Azmil said Muda should instead focus on bolstering its existing partnership with PSM and working at the grassroots level 'regardless of the reward'. Oh, however, said Muda must align itself with one of the three grand coalitions in Malaysia's political arena — PN, Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional. He said that, to date, no political party has emerged on its own as a credible third force capable of reshaping the national political landscape. 'It will be a prolonged struggle if Muda were to remain unaligned,' he added. Muda contested under the PH banner in the 2022 general election. However, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, its founder and sole MP, withdrew the party's support for the unity government in September 2023 . The party also signed a pact with PSM in the lead-up to the six state elections held in August 2023. However, both saw their candidates soundly beaten at the polls.
Reuters
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Cameroon leader's ally quits, launches challenge in political shake-up
YAOUNDE, June 27 (Reuters) - A long-time ally of Cameroon's leader has quit the government to run for president in October elections - a defection that could reshape the West African nation's politics after more than four decades of Paul Biya's rule. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who served as spokesperson for Biya's government from 2009 to 2018, said this week he had resigned as employment minister in response to what he said were widespread calls for change. "As a political leader, I felt called upon to respond to this solicitation from our compatriots from north to south, from east to west," Tchiroma said in an interview with a social media influencer Ben Oumar on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday. Cameroon's communication ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Biya, the world's oldest serving head of state at 92, has not confirmed whether he plans to stand again in the vote. There has been widespread speculation in Cameroon about a possible succession battle in the ruling coalition. Tchiroma's challenge could shake the ruling party's confidence ahead of what many anticipate will be a historic election — possibly the first without Biya since 1982. Cameroon has had just two presidents since independence from France and Britain in the early 1960s. It would also mark a major political realignment in the northern regions – Tchiroma's home base – which has traditionally delivered strong support for Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM). Tchiroma is the leader of the Cameroon National Salvation Front, a CPDM-allied party, and has previously also served as transport and communication minister. He announced his plans in an open letter on Wednesday, in which he said that Biya's administration had stifled progress and paralysed institutions. Tchiroma said on Thursday his goals include a referendum on federalism, which would grant more power to provinces. He also vowed to prioritize youth employment, education and agricultural modernization. Tchiroma could still face an uphill battle in a political system where incumbency, patronage and party machinery wield enormous influence. But he is now arguably the most influential northern opposition figure, and his defection signals a potential realignment of elites, Munjah Vitalis Fagha, a political scientist at the University of Buea, told Reuters. Tchiroma's candidacy may open the door for other northern figures like Bello Bouba Maigari of the National Union for Democracy and Progress to declare bids, Fagha and other analysts said.
Malay Mail
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
GRS confident of continued alliance with Pakatan in Sabah polls, says PGRS veep
LABUAN, June 15 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is optimistic that its political alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH) will continue into the Sabah state election. Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) vice-president Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is also PGRS president, is making strategic efforts to ensure the continuation of the coalition's collaboration with PH both during and after the polls. 'The current Sabah government is a combination of GRS and president is fine-tuning the details of ongoing discussions with PH, and he will make an official announcement in due course,' he told Bernama after officiating the Labuan PGRS annual conference here today. He said the Labuan division would play a critical support role during the state election campaign, especially by reaching out to Labuan-based Sabah voters. 'One of the key efforts is the opening of an operations room here in Labuan, specifically to coordinate support for PGRS candidates,' he said. The current five-year term of the 16th Sabah state assembly will expire automatically on Nov 11. In a recent statement, Hajiji reaffirmed that the cooperation between GRS and PH is based on shared governance goals and the commitment to political stability in Sabah. He said that both coalitions have demonstrated that working together has yielded positive outcomes for the people, and the partnership remains essential for ensuring continued development and unity in the state. — Bernama
CNN
06-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
How Fox News, Trump's biggest media ally, has handled his feud with Elon Musk
CNN — The most powerful alliance in US politics crumbled in real-time on Thursday, with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk lobbing political barbs and personal insults at each other from their respective social media platforms. The pair's biggest media allies at Fox News — the most-watched cable news network on the planet, often viewed as a clearinghouse for the MAGA agenda — seem to be having a little difficulty with the breakup. Since Thursday afternoon, the network's MAGA-aligned opinion personalities have largely mourned the feud and appeared torn between their two central heroes, at times openly imploring them through the TV screen to reconcile. Will Cain lamented that the feud is 'not a story that we wanted today for America.' Greg Gutfeld demanded the pair 'knock it off' and make up. Don't 'sabotage' a Trump 'Golden Age,' he said, 'with this self-inflicted feud.' Longtime Trump ally and personal friend Laura Ingrahamexhorted Musk, whom she called a modern-day Thomas Edison, to see that 'Trump is not the problem here.' She confessed the situation 'makes me sad,' and solemnly claimed she 'talked to an insider today who said it is irreparable.' Other Fox News personalities seemed to deny the severity of the two most powerful figures in conservative politics publicly calling each other liars, losers and worse. 'Big deal,' Sean Hannity said. 'They'll work it out eventually, they'll become friends again.' 'There is no split,' declared 'Fox & Friends' co-host Lawrence Jones on Friday morning. 'They're going to bury the hatchet.' He added: 'You've got two strong alpha males that are deep in their convictions and it just exploded online.' Primetime host Jesse Watters suggested Trump and Musk were 'just blowing off steam' and likened the situation to buddies in a love triangle: 'Guys sometimes will punch you in the face, and the next night you're having beer; sleep with your girlfriend, and you patch things up.' 'Fox & Friends' co-host Ainsley Earhardt made a similar analogy: 'It's just like a relationship,' she said. 'Everyone's been in a relationship where in the very beginning you're crazy about each other, you're talking marriage, you're talking about meeting the family, and then all of a sudden it takes a turn and you don't like each other anymore.' Surprisingly, the network hasn't shied away from repeating Musk's allegation that Trump is mentioned in the so-called Epstein files, long a subject of right-wing conspiracy theories. 'If Trump was in them, Biden probably would have released them,' Watters asserted. Trump 'was one of the first people to realize just how horrible Epstein really was,' Hannity offered in a defense. 'The Epstein file thing was way over the top, and just crazy to say Trump was in the Epstein files,' Brian Kilmeade said Friday morning. 'What are you doing?' However, Kilmeade was careful to praise Musk's efforts during his time in the Trump administration. Notably, none of Fox's MAGA-aligned opinion stars explicitly chose a side, instead choosing to believe this is a mere blip in their big, beautiful friendship. It will be interesting to see where they fall should things get even uglier. The safe bet's on Trump, of course.
