Serbia’s love for Donald Trump erupted at the UFC’s historic Belgrade debut on Saturday evening as a huge “PRESIDENT TRUMP — SERBIA WELCOMES YOU” banner was held up inside the arena.
Trump ally Richard Grenell was spotted chatting ringside with Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali as they joined a host of high-profile guests, including UFC chief Dana White, in cheering on the action. But despite being thousands of miles from Washington, Trump’s political presence still loomed large over the spectacle, with applause and chants of support erupting from all corners of the packed arena.
The eye-catching display became one of the night’s most striking moments, putting Serbia’s affection for President Trump on full view.
Trump has long enjoyed strong support among Serbs where his political style and foreign policy approach toward Serbia have won him a loyal following.
The US president has recently shared two major interviews with Vucic on Truth Social in recent months — first a Breitbart interview in May and later the Serbian leader’s appearance with Fox News. In both, Vucic praised Trump and invited him to visit Belgrade.
Trump would become the first sitting US president to visit Belgrade since Jimmy Carter made an official visit in June 1980.
President Donald Trump, an avid UFC fan, marked his 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary with an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn in June. An estimated 4,300 guests attended the invite-only event on the South Lawn, while another 85,000 people watched from a nearby fan zone.
