Penn State Claims Fourth Straight Title as Trump Cheers On at Wells Fargo Center
On Saturday, President Donald Trump visited the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships finals, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The event, which capped a three-day tournament running from March 20 to March 22, drew thousands of wrestling fans from across the country, with Penn State poised to claim its fourth consecutive national team title. Trump’s attendance marked his second visit to the NCAA wrestling championships in three years, underscoring his affinity for the sport and his tendency to weave sports into his public outings as president.
Accompanied by a notable entourage, Trump arrived shortly after 7 p.m. ET, as the crowd erupted into a mix of loud cheers and scattered boos, with chants of “USA! USA!” echoing through the packed venue. Joining him were billionaire advisor Elon Musk, Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick, Ohio Representative Jim Jordan—a two-time NCAA wrestling champion himself—White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and OutKick founder Clay Travis. The group took VIP seats near the mat, where Trump waved to fans, pumped his fists, and later shook hands with victorious wrestlers.
Trump’s journey to Philadelphia began earlier that day when he flew from Bedminster, New Jersey—where he had spent Friday night at his club—aboard Air Force One. Landing at Philadelphia International Airport, he was greeted by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin before heading to the Wells Fargo Center. The visit was Trump’s first to Pennsylvania since beginning his second term in January 2025, a state critical to his 2024 election victory.
The president’s presence at the championships was no surprise to those familiar with his history. A longtime fan of combat sports, Trump has attended UFC fights, WWE events, and the NCAA wrestling championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2023 as a candidate and most recently the Superbowl as the first sitting president to ever attend the big game. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Friday, he explained his motivation: “We’re going to the big fight. The reason I’m going is in Philadelphia. They have the NCAA, world, wrestling for college. And I’ve always supported the wrestlers. I want to support them. These are the great college wrestlers from the various schools.” His attendance also came weeks after signing an executive order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports, a move that resonates with his supporters and aligns with the NCAA’s recent policy shift on the issue.
Next Level Spotlight
For the wrestlers and fans, Trump’s visit added next level spotlight to an already electric night. Penn State’s Josh Barr, speaking before the finals, called it “a great honor for the sport of wrestling,” noting its need for growth and visibility. Teammate Mitchell Mesenbrink echoed this sentiment, saying, “We want people to watch wrestling… Democrat or Republican, whoever it is, it’s the president of the United States—the leader of the free world—at our wrestling event. That’s really cool.” After the matches, Trump personally congratulated several champions, including Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson, who saluted him with an American flag draped over his shoulders.
Trump’s trip to Philadelphia is the latest in a series of sports-focused outings since his re-election. In the past two months, he attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Daytona 500 in Florida—where his motorcade lapped the track—and, as president-elect, a UFC fight in New York. These appearances have helped the president stay connected with Americans, a strategy that has long defined his public and political persona. For the wrestling community, his presence brought both attention and energy to a sport hungry for the spotlight, cementing a memorable night at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
