Donald Trump was joined on stage by Bryson DeChambeau at a Presidential Election Party in Florida in a bizarre celebration, before the 78-year-old was declared the new President of the United States.
Trump beat Kamala Harris to the 270 seats required to regain the title he lost in 2020, and was projected by Associated Press to have won 279 to his rival’s tally of 223 with four results to go.
In a bruising night for Harris and the Democrats, one of the key facets of Trump’s victory stemmed from wins in the swing states of North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The 78-year-old was clearly in buoyant mood on Wednesday morning in Florida as he addressed fans, enjoying the moment as he appears set to regain the White House, and was joined on the stage by two high-profile figures from the world of sport in DeChambeau and UFC president Dana White.
White, the president and CEO of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), has been outspoken in his support of Trump, and described the 78-year-old as ‘the most hard-working man I’ve ever met’ – before bizarrely giving what appeared to be his own victory speech.
Donald Trump (centre) won the United States presidential election race on Wednesday morning
In a bizarre victory speech – which came before the result was declared – Trump was joined on stage by both Dana White and Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau was also called onto the stage (pictured in black cap) and waved awkwardly towards Trump
But that was not the only strange sports-politics collaboration for the evening, with Trump also inviting DeChambeau – one of the world’s foremost golfers of his generation – on stage, claiming he has ‘got a great career going’.
Trump also joked that the 31-year-old can hit a golf ball ‘slightly longer’ than him, though The Scientist, as DeChambeau is also known, was a little late getting on stage.
DeChambeau is a two-time winner of the US Open – one of the sport’s four majors – and finished second in the PGA Championship.
‘We have up here today the US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, fantastic.
‘Obviously he hits the ball slightly longer than me! Just a little bit. Bryson DeChambeau is up here. Where is he? What happened to Bryson?’
Trump then bizarrely starts to call the golfer’s name: ‘Bryson? Oh, he was shy! He’s hitting balls?’
He added: ‘He’s on the way? Bryson. Oh, look at him. He’s got a great career going. Great US Open, Bryson. That’s a fantastic job’
DeChambeau eventually arrived, before making his way up onto the stage, waving awkwardly to Trump.
DeChambeau is a two-time winner of the US Open and finished runner-up in the PGA Championship
White launched into what appeared to be his own victory speech where he named several streamers and Joe Rogan
Trump was quick to bring out his long-time supporter White, the president of MMA’s UFC
The 78-year-old has a well-documented history in golf, and in 2016 was thought to own as many as 17 golf courses through his holding company.
White, however, was invited to say a few words at the podium on the stage, and after some glowing praise for Trump, launched into what seemed to be a victory speech of his own.
‘Nobody deserves this more than him, and nobody deserves this more than his family does,’ White began, in perhaps expected fashion.
‘This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you’ve seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like.
‘He keeps going forward, he doesn’t quit. He’s the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever met in your life. His family are incredible people. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this, they deserve it as a family.’
But he soon began to list names, similar to what you might expect from an Oscars acceptance speech, naming several streamers.
‘I want to thank some people real quickly. I want to thank the Nelk boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von [all streamers]. And the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan. Thank you America, have a good night.’