Mel Gibson, a Hollywood actor and filmmaker, gave former US President Donald Trump a military-style salute in a viral video from an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout on Saturday.

The video received a lot of attention on social media following Conor McGregor’s loss against Dustin Poirier.

The incident occurred when Trump went past and waved to the audience at UFC 264, surrounded by security, according to The Sun.

Since the video initially surfaced, people have tried to piece together if Gibson was the one who put his palm on his brow as the former commander-in-chief walked past. And after some investigation—basically matching his clothing in the video to the one he was seen going out of the venue in—they’ve determined that the person in the video is Mel.

Trump was greeted with loud applause and boos as he was led to the fight between mixed martial artists Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

Gibson, 65, was not a well-known Trump supporter before this. Unlike more loud Hollywood Trump supporters like Kirstie Alley and Jon Voight, who frequently endorsed Trump’s re-election campaign, he criticized Trump’s idea for a US-Mexico border wall in 2016 and didn’t openly support him in 2020.

Gibson was labeled a “patriot” by some for his actions.

“Yoooooo!!! Is that Mel Gibson saluting President Trump?” one person tweeted.

They subsequently added, “The Patriot Saluting President Trump,” along with a video of the incident.

Donald Trump seen in attendance at UFC 264 on July 10, 2021.
AP Photo/John Locher

While Gibson has been the subject of controversy in the past, his Trump salute has sparked some discourse on social media. Some have questioned why he would would provide a military-style salute to Trump in the first place, while others have pulled receipts of his previous views on Trump.

He was once cut from Netflix’s Chicken Run sequel after he was accused of making an antisemitic remark to co-star Winona Ryder in 1995. He apparently asked her if she was an “oven dodger.”

Gibson’s gesture prompted debate among his followers about his political views and sparked a reaction on social media.

“So crazy how I thought he was awesome back in the Eighties, I’m glad people’s true characters have been revealed,” one person wrote.

“Mel Gibson is who we thought he was,” another added.

Even celebrities Vince Vaughn and Kelsey Grammar have always been more forthright in their support for Trump than Gibson.

Gibson was also videoed at several times during the fight.

“Hey, I want to see the rematch, you know best out of three,” Gibson said at one point. “I don’t care who wins. I just want to see a good match, and I’m sure it will be.”

“Who the hell cares what I think?” Gibson remarked of his political beliefs in a 2020 interview with Fox News. ” I’m not an expert – what am I qualified to talk about?”

“It’s alright. It allows you a sense of anonymity so that in your performance you can come out and just be anything; you’re not already carrying a lot of baggage. It’s partially intentional,” he added.

“I am politically incorrect, that’s true,” he added. “Political correctness to me is just intellectual terrorism. I find that really scary, and I won’t be intimidated into changing my mind. Everyone isn’t going to love you all the time.”