Donald Trump Remembers Hulk Hogan as ‘MAGA All the Way’ After Wrestling Icon’s Death
The former U.S. president reflects on a 35-year friendship with Hulk Hogan, calling the WWE legend a cultural warrior and personal ally.
New Jersey, July 24 EST: News of Hulk Hogan’s death hit late last night, and the first big tribute out of America came from a man Indians know all too well: Donald Trump. The former U.S. President didn’t just post a formal message. What he wrote sounded more like a personal goodbye.
And fair enough. For those who’ve followed American pop culture since the Doordarshan days, Hogan wasn’t just another foreign wrestler. He was the face of ‘80s wrestling — yellow bandana, handlebar mustache, tearing his shirt like a filmi hero. And Trump? He wasn’t president then. He was the flashy real estate guy from New York with a golden tower and his name plastered on everything.
Apparently, they were friends for over 35 years.
Not Just Politics, But Personal
Trump took to Truth Social, his version of Twitter, and called Hogan “a great friend” and “MAGA all the way.” The message had a strange mix — grief, admiration, and politics. He said Hogan was strong, smart, tough, but “with the biggest heart.”
Anyone who’s watched the two together on old American TV knows this wasn’t random. Hogan once performed at Trump’s Atlantic City events. Back in the day, both men were symbols of a certain loud, unapologetic American style. Over time, that flair turned political, especially for Trump. Hogan followed suit.
And in 2024, just days after someone tried to shoot Trump during a rally, Hogan turned up at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, ripped off his shirt, bellowed out a full-throated speech, and gave Trump one of his loudest moments of the week. Trump didn’t forget. He said Hogan’s speech was “electric” and “a highlight.”
A Legend in Indian Living Rooms
For Indian fans especially Gen X and millennials who grew up before WWE turned slick and corporate Hogan was larger than life. Every Sunday afternoon, whether you lived in a Bandra flat or a small-town home in Bihar, you’d catch him on cable TV, slamming giants like Andre the Giant and mouthing off with lines like, “Whatcha gonna do, brother?!”
He was a five-time WWE champion, and later, twice inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Guardian reports he died of cardiac arrest at 71, at home in Clearwater, Florida.
But like many American icons, Hogan’s later years got messy. There were court cases, leaked tapes, racism scandals, and a nasty divorce. In the U.S., he fell out of favor. But in the Trump era, he clawed his way back, especially with right-wing audiences. Trump never distanced himself. If anything, he brought Hogan closer.
A Farewell That’s Part Grief, Part Culture War
Trump’s tribute wasn’t just about friendship. It was about values too. He praised Hogan not just as a wrestler, but as someone who “believed in America… and always believed in me.” It read more like a soldier’s eulogy than a celebrity farewell.
And that’s the thing. Hogan, in recent years, stopped being just an entertainer. He became a symbol in Trump’s culture war, the kind of larger-than-life figure that MAGA supporters love. He wasn’t subtle. At rallies, he wore Trump gear. At the RNC, he tore off a shirt to reveal a Trump flag underneath. For Trump’s base, it was theatre. For everyone else, it was cringe.
Still, in Trump’s world, and maybe for those who miss the old-school, no-filter kind of fame, Hogan stayed golden.
What Indians Will Remember
Here, in India, most people didn’t see the politics. We saw the Hulkster. The man who leg-dropped giants, who told kids to eat their vitamins and train hard. We remember him fighting off five wrestlers on his own, and still flexing for the crowd.
In that era, it didn’t matter if you understood the rules of wrestling. Hogan was hero enough.
Trump might have known the man. But India knew the myth.
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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
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