Hulk Hogan, the theatrical former professional wrestler, set the stage for Donald J. Trump on Thursday at the Republican National Convention with a rousing speech. During his address, Hogan tore off his suit jacket and shirt, revealing a red Trump-Vance tank top, which drew raucous cheers from the crowd.
The retired wrestler, whose real name is Terry G. Bollea, referred to Trump as his “hero” and said the former president would bring “America back together, one real American at a time.”
“As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics,” said Bollea, sporting a red bandanna and a pair of dark sunglasses perched above his head. “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.”
Bollea had previously been undecided about this year’s election. Just last month, he mentioned in an interview with NewsNation that he had not yet decided whom he would support, expressing, “I just don’t know. I just want the best man to win.”
However, the assassination attempt on Trump last Saturday changed his stance.
“When I saw him stand up with that fist in the air and the blood on his face — as a warrior, as a leader — I realized that’s what America needs,” Bollea said on Fox News on Thursday night.
This sentiment earned Bollea a prime-time spot on the final night of the Republican convention, making him one of the last speakers before Trump took the stage.
Trump has had close ties to wrestling entertainment for decades and has participated in several WWE events. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, eight years after Bollea entered the hall. Trump also appointed Linda McMahon, former WWE chief executive, as head of the Small Business Administration during his presidency. McMahon also spoke on Thursday, and Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was set to speak after Bollea.
In the aftermath of the rally shooting, which left his right ear bloodied, Trump has aimed to project an aura of toughness. He has worn a bandage over his ear during his appearances at the convention this week, and his supporters have adopted his rallying cry, “fight! fight! fight!”
Bollea, a physically towering 70-year-old performer known for his gravelly voice and iconic handlebar mustache, has often compared pro wrestling to politics and has even contemplated running for office.
His political leanings have been somewhat unclear, as he has supported both former President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. However, Bollea has significant ties to Republican politics. Peter Thiel, the billionaire entrepreneur and Republican megadonor, bankrolled Bollea’s legal fight against Gawker Media, which resulted in a $140 million judgment in Bollea’s favor and led to Gawker’s bankruptcy and shutdown.
Thiel, one of Trump’s top donors in 2016, remains influential in the Republican Party. He was reported to have encouraged Trump to select J.D. Vance, who once worked at one of Thiel’s investment firms, as his running mate. Vance, a senator from Ohio, accepted the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday.
Despite a tarnished reputation in 2015 for using a racial slur on videotape, Bollea has hinted at political aspirations, suggesting he would make a great vice president someday due to his “common sense” and understanding of right and wrong.
However, on Thursday, he threw his support behind Vance, declaring from the convention stage that he saw “the greatest tag team of my life” in Trump and Vance.
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