Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan spiced up the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee on Thursday, ripping off his shirt during an on-stage speech to underscore his support for Donald Trump.
Hogan spoke at the convention shortly before Trump was set to accept his party’s nomination for the November presidential election. The wrestling legend initially took to the stage in a navy blazer and a T-shirt with a photo of himself holding the US flag and the caption “real American.” Minutes later, he pulled off the blazer and ripped his T-shirt to reveal a Trump-J.D. Vance tank top underneath, referencing the Republicans’ nominees for president and vice-president.
Hogan gushed about his love of Trump, calling him his “hero” and a “gladiator.” The shirt-ripping stunt was timed to the part of his speech where he expressed outrage at the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last weekend.
“What happened last week when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next president of the United States? Enough was enough. Let Trump-a-mania run wild, brother. Let Trump-a-mania rule again. Let Trump-a-mania make America great again,” he hollered, quoting Trump’s campaign motto.
Hogan also accused the US political establishment of throwing “investigations, impeachments, and court cases” at Trump to undermine his public image, but said the former president “is still kicking their butts.”
The crowd’s reaction to Hogan’s performance was enthusiastic, while Trump himself was seen smiling and applauding the wrestler.
Trump also addressed the RNC on Thursday night, in a speech he completely rewrote following the Butler shooting. He officially accepted the GOP nomination, vowing that “four months from now, we will have an incredible victory, and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country.”
Trump has risen in most polls since the assassination attempt, and currently holds a four-point advantage over Democratic rival Joe Biden, according to an Emerson College survey published on Thursday. The poll also put Trump ahead of incumbent leader Biden in seven crucial swing states that could decide the outcome of the election.