Trump Grins as UFC Fighter Mocks Michelle Obama at White House Event

President Donald Trump cracked a "half-smile" as UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit launched a vile jab at former First Lady Michelle Obama, calling her a man during a post-fight interview.

Hokit, who defeated Derrick Lewis via second-round TKO at the UFC Freedom 250 event, thanked Trump for hosting the occasion before making the offensive comment. "And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?" he asked, prompting commentator Joe Rogan to quickly intervene and conclude the segment.

Trump, seated cage-side with Melania Trump and UFC CEO Dana White, reportedly reacted with a brief smile after Hokit’s slur. The President later shook hands with Hokit as he exited the Octagon.

Viewers wasted no time condemning Hokit’s remarks on social media. Congressman Christian D. Menefee expressed outrage, stating, "They really let a UFC fighter call our only Black First Lady a man on the White House lawn at an official White House event … while thousands cheered and the biggest podcaster in the world smiled." He added, "There is no economic policy fix for this. Many of these people are just racist."

Fox News host Jessica Tarlov echoed this sentiment, labeling Hokit’s comments as “Absolute trash” alongside a clip of his speech.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III slammed Hokit as a “disgrace” and “small man,” criticizing him for using his moment of victory to insult Michelle Obama. He stated, “It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man. Especially with the history behind calling black women men.”

UFC CEO Dana White condemned Hokit’s remarks in a text to TIME magazine, asserting he does not support “that kind of nonsense.” He stated, “I understand that the Obamas are public figures, but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech, but I hate that kind of nonsense.”

This isn’t Hokit’s first brush with controversy. At UFC 324 in January, he similarly ended his post-fight interview with a derogatory comment about WNBA star Brittney Griner, stating, “And P.S., Brittney Griner is a man.”

When asked about Hokit’s latest comments, White responded, “I didn’t. I heard about it. I didn’t see it. I don’t love it.”

After securing his UFC contract on White’s Contender Series last August, Hokit — a former running back who spent time on the practice squads of the 49ers and Cardinals — declared he had “left the liberal, snowflake NFL to do a real man’s sport in a real man’s promotion.”

He further stated his desire to confront “sex traffickers, pedophiles, rapists; hell, you can even throw the transgenders in there.”