“Alright, Philadelphia, let’s see those guns! Show us your muscles!”
It was a Saturday night in Philly, and the Wells Fargo Center was filled with strong men for the N.C.A.A. men’s Division I wrestling championship. “Macho Man” by Village People echoed throughout as the stadium announcer panned the camera over the crowd and encouraged them to flex their muscles.
In the VIP section beside the ring, President Trump and his entourage were present. The group included a handful of loyal Republican congressmen, his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and, as is frequently the case these days, Elon Musk.
Mr. Musk, donned in a black SpaceX hoodie, sat a couple of seats down from Mr. Trump. Throughout the evening, college wrestling champions made their way to meet the president and capture a photo, which often included Mr. Musk as well. This truly was a two-for-one presidency.
Many wrestling fans in attendance seemed uncertain if this was what they had signed up for when they voted for Mr. Trump, as many indeed did. The crowd primarily featured cornfed men with cauliflower ears from regions like Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, and while nearly all expressed satisfaction with Mr. Trump’s tenure so far, conversations with over a dozen attendees revealed more nuanced feelings emerging about Mr. Musk.
“I’m not really a fan of Elon,” stated Blaize Cabell, a 32-year-old wrestling coach from Independence, Iowa, who remains a strong supporter of the president. He described Mr. Musk’s business career as a sequence of failures and acquisitions, claiming the billionaire was “making a lot of callous cuts,” particularly referencing the Department of Agriculture, which recently fired thousands of staff only to scramble to rehire them.
“At this point, I don’t even know what to think of him,” said David Berkovich, a 24-year-old wrestler and graduate student from Brooklyn, regarding Mr. Musk. “He’s just around all the time.”
“His behavior is becoming a bit erratic — I think that’s something everyone can agree on,” remarked Bobby Coll, a 24-year-old finance broker from Manhattan’s West Village. His girlfriend, Julia Sirois, chimed in on Mr. Musk’s involvement in the administration, saying, “It feels like someone is reaching into a cookie jar where they don’t belong.”
“She’s smarter than I am,” Mr. Coll quickly added.
Trump’s supporters are generally inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, appreciating the theoretical support of Mr. Musk in Washington. They are grateful for his role in helping get their candidate elected — but the depth of Musk’s involvement, more than two months in, seemed to catch some by surprise. Concerns arose regarding whether this was beginning to reflect poorly on Mr. Trump, someone they feel protective of. The image of the president promoting Teslas on the White House lawn wasn’t exactly the partnership they envisioned.
“That’s a tricky one for me,” said Jarrod Scandle, a 44-year-old retired police officer from Shamokin, Pa., regarding the president’s Tesla promotion. “I think it’s a bit… I’m looking for the right word —” his voice trailed off. Ultimately, he concluded he was more of a Chevy or Ford guy.
Katy Travis, a 48-year-old wrestling mom from Columbia, Mo., expressed that Mr. Musk’s continual presence “seems ridiculous.” She remarked that his level of influence only makes the president appear “weak,” which is considered highly unfavorable during a Division I wrestling championship.
“It appears he’s just trying to curry favor to line his pockets,” Ms. Travis remarked regarding the president.
While young men grappled on the mat, Mr. Trump was seen conversing with Dave McCormick, the Republican senator from Pennsylvania. Not far away sat Mr. Musk, flanked by Dina Powell McCormick, the senator’s wife and a senior aide within the first Trump administration, and Jim Jordan, a Republican representative from Ohio, who is a two-time college wrestling champion and former coach. As the wrestling match continued, Mr. Musk was engaged on his phone, reposting videos that showed him shaking hands with the president while the crowd cheered.
“I know there’s a lot of concern surrounding what he’s been doing, particularly with the DOGE situation and all,” said Mr. Scandle, the retired Pennsylvania police officer. “I understand everyone’s worries. I’m concerned as well. I own stocks, and they’re down every day; it’s disheartening.”
However, he added, he trusts Mr. Trump to handle matters as needed. “I believe everything will work out,” he stated confidently. “It usually does with him.”
After the wrestling event concluded, Mr. Trump began to exit, moving slowly while waving to the cheering crowd. Mr. Musk followed closely behind.
Just before reaching the exit, Mr. Trump paused for a moment to shake hands with a young fan sitting in the front row. Moments later, Mr. Musk also stopped to shake the young man’s hand.
