Donald Trump’s 80th birthday bash UFC fight has turned nasty with a slur against former first lady Michelle Obama.
Part of Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 card, held on the South Lawn of the White House, saw Derrick Lewis take on Josh Hokit. Heavyweight prospect Hokit, 28, already created controversy on Saturday when he appared to spit and vomit on himself during the official weigh-in.
After winning his match Sunday night via a TKO to Derrick Lewis in the second round, Hokit let loose in a post-match interview.
“Shout out to Trump for having the balls to put some s--- like this on,” Hokit told Joe Rogan.
The mention of the president’s name got a mixture of cheers and boos, as the camera cut to the 80-year-old sitting with UFC CEO Dana White.
Hokit then added, “There’s only one person more incredible than the Incredible Hulk, and that’s my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
After insulting fellow athlete Alex Pereira ahead of his fight, Hokit looked directly into the camera and said “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right America?”
Rogan made no comment after the remark, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”
The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and reps for Obama for comment. Paramount +, which is airing the event exclusively, declined to comment.
After his win, Hokit put a medallion around Trump’s neck, with White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin capturing the incident on Instagram.
Trump took Hokit’s chain off shortly after his remark about Obama, New York Post reporter Steven Nelson stated.
However a report from CNN said that Trump appeared to show a “half-smile” seconds after Hokit’s comment.
Trump refused to apologize for a racist video posted on his Truth Social account in February which depicted former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes.
The president did not take responsibility for posting the video, which he claimed he passed onto a staffer to post on his behalf. He blamed his aides for failing to review it in full before publishing it on his social media account.
“Nobody knew that that was in the end,” he said, referring to the racist imagery.
“If they would have looked, they would have seen it, and probably they would have had the sense to take it down.”
“Somebody slipped and missed a very small part,” Trump added.
Hokit is no stranger to making controversial comments, and has even previously made the same remark about Michelle Obama, according to the New York Times.
He also referred to legendary women’s basketball player and 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner in a similar manner after a victory at UFC 324 in January. After his victory speech, he added, “And P.S., Brittney Griner is a man.’’ At the time, Rogan said, “Brittney Griner catching strays.’’
UFC CEO White said he did not approve of the remark about Griner. “I heard about it,” he said. “I didn’t see it. I don’t love it.”
Hokit, who previously played NFL before complaining it was full of “liberal snowflakes” and switching to UFC, also went viral on Saturday during his weigh-in for the Freedom 250 card.
He appeared to vomit on himself, and stated, “So what, maybe I was drinking last night.”
The match between Hokit and Lewis was added at the personal request of President Trump, who was impressed after he watched from cageside in April as Hokit won an instant classic with Curtis Blaydes.
UFC boss White then decided to pair Hokit with Lewis, who is Trump’s favorite fighter, for the White House event.
