It was late July 2024. The air in Milwaukee was thick with the kind of theatrical tension you only find at a professional wrestling main event or a high-stakes political convention. Suddenly, the opening chords of "Real American" blasted through the speakers. Out stepped Terry Bollea—the man the world knows as Hulk Hogan—decked out in his signature red and yellow. But he wasn’t there to leg-drop a giant. He was there to endorse his long-time friend, Donald Trump.
The moment Hogan ripped his shirt open to reveal a Trump-Vance 2024 tank top, the crowd went absolutely ballistic. It was pure spectacle. For many watching, it felt like a collision of two distinct worlds. Honestly, though? If you look at the history, these two have been running in the same circles for nearly forty years.
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The Atlantic City Connection: Where It All Began
Most people think this political alliance is a recent thing, born out of the modern MAGA movement. That’s just not true. You’ve gotta look back at the late 1980s to see the real foundation.
In 1988 and 1989, Atlantic City was basically the center of the universe for sports entertainment. Donald Trump didn't just attend WrestleMania IV and V; he hosted them at the Trump Plaza. Hogan was the undisputed king of the ring back then. He recently shared on the PBD Podcast that Trump was the kind of guy who would show up early to the dressing rooms just to shoot the breeze with the wrestlers.
There’s this one specific memory Hogan likes to recount. He was "bleeding like a pig" after a brutal match, and there sat Trump, ringside, watching the carnage. They weren't just business associates; they were two guys who understood the "show" better than anyone else. They were both building massive personal brands before "personal branding" was even a term people used.
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The Peter Thiel Factor and the Gawker Lawsuit
If you want to understand why Hogan became such a staunch defender of the former president, you have to talk about the Gawker lawsuit. It’s a wild story that sounds like a movie script. Basically, Hogan sued Gawker Media for $100 million after they posted a private sex tape of him.
But here’s the kicker: the legal fees were being secretly bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel.
Thiel was one of Trump's biggest supporters in Silicon Valley and eventually served on his transition team. The lawyer who led Hogan’s team, Charles Harder, was the same guy Trump hired to handle his own high-profile litigation, including cases involving Stormy Daniels. This wasn't just a legal battle for Hogan; it was a crusade against what he and Trump both called "fake news" and "dishonest media." The victory over Gawker—a $140 million verdict—didn't just save Hogan's career; it cemented his place in a specific circle of influential figures who felt targeted by the mainstream press.
Transitioning from "Real American" to "Trumpamania"
Hogan’s politics haven’t always been a straight line. Believe it or not, he actually endorsed Barack Obama early on. But as the years went by, his alignment with Trump became more of a personal mission.
By the time the 2024 campaign rolled around, Hogan was "MAGA all the way," as Trump put it. The assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, seemed to be the final straw for the Hulkster. He told the RNC crowd that when "they took a shot at my hero," he couldn't stay on the sidelines anymore.
He brought that same energy to Madison Square Garden in October 2024. He stood on that stage, waving a giant American flag, and told the room full of "Trumpamaniacs" that he didn't see "any stinkin' Nazis" in the building—a direct jab at the media's framing of the event. It was classic Hogan. It was classic Trump. High energy, high stakes, and a lot of finger-pointing at the "bad guys."
The Reality of Their Friendship
What’s interesting is that while people like Vince McMahon were seen as Trump’s close business allies, Hogan was more of a cultural brother-in-arms. They shared a specific type of fame.
- The Reality TV Parallel: Both men were essentially saved or revitalized by reality television. Trump had The Apprentice; Hogan had Hogan Knows Best.
- The Larger-than-Life Persona: Neither man is known for being subtle. They both use a specific vocabulary—"brother," "huge," "terrible," "greatest"—to frame their narratives.
- Mutual Support: When Hogan launched his "Real American Beer" in 2024, Trump (who doesn't even drink) went on Truth Social to tell everyone to give it a try because Hogan is a "quality person."
Why This Matters Now
When Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71, Trump was one of the first to post a heartfelt tribute. He called Hogan "strong, tough, and smart," and noted the massive cultural impact he had. It marked the end of a very specific era in American pop culture where the lines between professional wrestling, reality TV, and the highest levels of government were completely blurred.
The relationship between Hulk Hogan and Trump serves as a case study in how modern political movements are built on more than just policy. They are built on shared enemies, shared aesthetics, and long-term loyalty. Hogan wasn't just a celebrity endorsement; he was a symbol of the "Old America" that the MAGA movement often references—the blue-collar, muscle-bound, flag-waving archetype.
Key Takeaways from the Hogan-Trump Alliance
- Longevity is Key: Their relationship spanned nearly 40 years, proving this wasn't a "flash in the pan" political stunt for the cameras.
- Shared Legal Battles: The fight against Gawker was a pivotal moment that aligned Hogan's personal grievances with Trump's broader war on the media.
- Cultural Symbolism: Hogan provided a bridge between the world of sports entertainment and the political stage, making the "Trumpamania" brand feel familiar to millions of wrestling fans.
If you’re looking to understand the intersection of celebrity and politics today, look no further than the footage of the 2024 RNC. Watch the shirt rip. Listen to the "brother." It’s a masterclass in how to command a room using the tools of entertainment to drive a political point home.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts: To see the shift in person, watch Hogan's 2024 RNC speech alongside his WrestleMania IV entrance from 1988. You’ll notice the mannerisms are identical, but the "opponent" has shifted from Andre the Giant to the political establishment.