Flags within the Sunshine State are being flown at half-staff Friday in honor of Hulk Hogan, the skilled wrestler who died from a heart attack final week on the age of 71.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) additionally proclaimed Aug. 1 as “Hulk Hogan Day” and referred to as the wrestler a “true Floridian.”
“His larger-than-life character can be missed, because the ‘Hulkster’ was an icon for a lot of who grew up within the 80s and 90s in addition to at present,” DeSantis wrote in a press release. “He was a real Floridian by means of and thru.”
The WWE star, whose actual identify is Terry Bollea, spoke on the Republican Nationwide Conference in June to a raucous and enthusiastic crowd the place he ripped off his shirt together with his naked arms. His dying final week prompted mourning and condolences from the celebration’s leaders, together with President Trump.
“We misplaced an important pal at present, the ‘Hulkster.’ Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way in which — Robust, robust, sensible, however with the most important coronary heart,” Trump wrote on Fact Social final week.
“He gave a completely electrical speech on the Republican Nationwide Conference, that was one of many highlights of your entire week,” he added. “He entertained followers from all around the World, and the cultural impression he had was large.”
Vice President Vance called the wrestler a “an important American icon.”
“The final time I noticed him we promised we’d get beers collectively subsequent time we noticed one another,” he wrote on social platform X. “The subsequent time should be on the opposite aspect, my pal!”
Hogan’s life was not without controversy. In 2013, he sued the web site Gawker Media after the web publication launched parts of an grownup movie with him and Heather Clem, who was married on the time to a radio host. He was additionally captured on the tape saying a racial slur. The wrestler later apologized.