Wrestler’s Trump salute steals NCAA spotlight – You won’t believe what happened next!

Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson caused a massive upset after stunning Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson

Published on: Mar 23, 2025, 12:23:49 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson caused a massive upset after stunning Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson 5-4 at the NCAA men's wrestling championships heavyweight final on Saturday night. After his victory, the second lieutenant in the US Air Force was quick to drape the flag and salute President Donald Trump, who was in attendance.

President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Hendrickson, who did not start the bout as a favorite, managed to score a 3-point takedown and prevented Steveson from getting a reversal to win the NCAA title. As soon as the clock struck zero, he was mobbed by his coaches. He later spared a moment to thank Trump, who waved back at him.

The president was visibly delighted at Wyatt Hendrickson’s salute gesture. He kept clapping before waving his fist in support.

WATCH:

What happened after the Trump salute moment?

Moments after walking off the mat, Hendrickson could be seen shaking the president’s hand. The two also exchanged words. The wrestler later revealed what Trump told him.

The Oklahoma State star told ESPN: “He said he's very proud of me. My commander-in-chief, I'm very proud of that. He came here to support his troops. I put on a show for him. I won him that national title.”

Speaking to reporters during a post-match press conference, Wyatt Hendrickson revealed that he was ‘very excited’ to have Donald Trump watch him in person.

Talking about his win and opponent, he added: “We’re both good wrestlers. He's won an Olympic medal. But today, I took the gold medal. I'm number one.”

“All week, I've been looking at David and Goliath. And no one thought that David could take down Goliath. But I did. I trusted in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave me that victory. He was on that mat with me today,” Hendrickson noted.

President Trump's entourage also included his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, Congressman Jim Jordan, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Outkick founder Clay Travis.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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