Russell Brand, a former critic of the Grand Old Party, mingled with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Jason Aldean as he attended the Republican National Convention in America on Thursday
Russell Brand is seemingly getting involved in American politics ahead of the election across the pond later this year.
Newly-baptised Brand, 49, rubbed shoulders with the likes of actor Jason Aldean and Hulk Hogan at the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on Thursday, as former President Donald Trump accepted his party's presidential nomination.
Brand mingling with Republican figures is a far cry from the days when the dad-of-four used to poke fun at the GOP (Grand Old Party). The former TV star, who once identified as left-wing and urged Britons to vote for the Labour Party, sparked an outrage in September 2008 when he called the then President George W. Bush a "re***ded cowboy" at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The former Big Brother's Big Mouth host then begged Americans to elect Democrat candidate Barack Obama as their President in the following November. But it looks like Brand has well and truly switched allegiances and found new common ground with the Republican Party.
Brand has kept a low-profile in the UK since September, when he found himself at the centre of numerous allegations of rape, assault and emotional abuse that are said to have taken place between 2006 and 2013. Brand vehemently denied all the allegations at the time and still does to this day.
Stepping out in American on Thursday, Brand donned a pair of dark sunglasses, a crucifix necklace and low-cut black shirt as he attended the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The British celebrity was amongst delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful as they showed their support for Donald Trump, 78, and his bid to return to the White House.
Trump, who will be up against President Joe Biden when Americans head to the polls later this year, was rushed offstage after shots were fired at his rally in Butler over the weekend. Trump was roughly six minutes into a speech in Butler when he suddenly reached for the side of his face as gunfire rang out. He then crouched and ran for cover before being rushed off the stage surrounded by Secret Service agents. Blood could be seen on his face and ear and the former US president has been sporting a fetching white bandage right ear ever since.
At the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt off during a speech as he emotionally showed professed his love for Trump. The veteran wrestler - who has known the former US President for more than 35 years - took to the stage to speak at the event after Trump was confirmed as the party's official nominee for the US election in November.
He drove the crowd wild by taking off his suit jacket and ripping off a tank top to reveal a red Trump/Vance shirt underneath. After coming on stage to the tune of his wrestling theme Real American, he pumped the audience up with his catchphrase, saying: "Well, let me tell you something brother!" before referencing the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania last Saturday when a gun man opened fire on the politician leaving Trump with a wounded ear and killing a crowd-member.
Hogan continued: "What happened last week ...when they took a shot at my hero ....They tried to kill the greatest president of the United States. Enough was enough!!" He also recalled winning a wrestling world title in front of keen fan Trump and went on to pledge his support to his old friend, adding: "Over my career, I’ve been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet, and I’ve squared off against warriors, ooh yeah, savages.
"And I’ve even, like I said, body-slammed giants in the middle of the ring. And I know tough guys, but let me tell you something, brother, Donald Trump is the toughest of them all. All you criminals, all you lowlifes, all you scumbags ... Whatcha gonna do when Donald Trump and all the Trumpamaniacs run wild on you, brother?"
Hogan added: "As as an entertainer, I tried to stay out of politics, but after everything that's happened to our country over the past four years and everything that happened last weekend [the assassination attempt], I can no longer be silent. I'm here tonight because I want the world to know that Donald Trump is a real American hero, and I'm proud to support my hero as the next president of this United States. I've known that man for over 35 years, and he's always been the biggest patriot, and he still is. He's always told you exactly what he thought, and he still does brother. Let Trump-O-Mania rule again, let Trump-O-Mania make America great again!"
Trump - who is a longtime wrestling fan and has long been involved with the WWE - was seen blowing Hogan a kiss as he finished his speech and later gave him a shout-out as he officially accepted the Republican nomination. He said of Hogan: "I know about entertainment, but when he used to lift a 350 pound man over his shoulders and then bench press him two rows into the audience, I said, that maybe entertainment, but he is one strong son-of-a-gun."
Trump previously hosted WWE's flagship event WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V at his Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was a regular ringside. He also took part in 2007's WrestleMania 23 - which was dubbed 'Battle of the Billionaires' - as Trump chose a champion fighter to take on a wrestler chosen by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon with the loser being forced to shave his head.
Trump won and got to keep his famous head of hair and was later seen shaving McMahon's head. The reality TV star-turned-politician was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 with his old foe McMahon doing the honours.
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