During a stretch of campaign stops taking place under the specter of a potential indictment, Donald Trump managed to make time for a sit-down interview on an unlikely platform: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Recorded just before Trump’s appearance at a UFC event in Las Vegas in July, the interview offered a rare departure from the controversial president’s politically charged interviews, instead focusing on his background as a boxing promoter, his all-time favorite combat sports matches, and the hypothetical walkout song he would pick if he were a fighter himself. The hosts described Trump as a “genuine fight fan” and their enthusiasm was palpable as he shared insights on promoting the likes of Mike Tyson during the 1980s.
“He was a fierce guy,” Trump, who was among Tyson’s staunchest defenders during his rape trial in 1992, said about the boxer during the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “I had more Tyson fights than anybody else and I got along great with him. In fact, I saw him recently and he could not have been nicer to me. He was a draw. He could draw anything, and he had a great career.”
Trump’s decision to appear on a UFC podcast may seem strange, but it is actually part of a savvy campaign strategy targeting unconventional media platforms that cater to young male audiences with little interest in politics. In 2018, during Trump’s presidency, four out of 10 white men said they viewed Trump favorably, according to a Public Religion Research Institute poll.
Earlier this year, Trump appeared on a podcast hosted by Nelk, a group of pranksters who rose to prominence in 2015 for their “Coke Prank On Cops” video, in which they bait officers into believing they had “coke” in their car, leading the officers to believe it was cocaine when, in fact, they were referring to Coca-Cola. Their videos have generated more than 1bn views on YouTube and garnered a rabid cult following across social media platforms.
Nelk were initially introduced to Trump by UFC president Dana White prior to the 2020 presidential election, leading the group to take a trip aboard Air Force One. The former president has since appeared on their podcast on numerous occasions, including an episode that was pulled by YouTube because of Trump’s disinformation about the 2020 election.
While Trump’s relationship with Nelk is a recent development, his affection for UFC goes back more than two decades, when he hosted UFC fights back at a time when many states shunned the sport and pay-per-view platforms refused to air their shows. Trump’s support was acknowledged by White, who credited him as someone who played a pivotal role in the organization’s growth. Since then, White has actively promoted Trump and his politics, speaking on his behalf at the 2016 and 2020 Republican conventions and defending his controversial policies, including the wall on America’s southern border.
Trump, who is facing 71 criminal charges and was charged a third time this week, continues to garner favorable reception at UFC events. During his most recent appearance at UFC 290 in July, Trump was greeted with raucous applause from the crowd and even hi-fived some supporters as he entered the arena flanked by secret service agents. It was a clear example of his adeptness at utilizing the UFC’s counter-culture branding and overwhelmingly white male audience as a conduit for his political aspirations.
Similarly, Trump’s UFC interview underscored his calculated approach to engaging a demographic outside the traditional politician’s reach. While a vocal portion of the UFC’s fanbase identifies as right wing, the sport is also home to less politically engaged voters who could be swayed by Trump’s apparent cultural cachet. His ability to carry a lengthy conversation dedicated to combat sports emphasizes his comfort around the fight game and his willingness to engage with its audience on their terms – a trait that his political opponents sorely lack.
“Political opinions or not, it is cool to see such an influential person chop it up about sports like they are one of us,” read one of the YouTube comments beneath the interview. Another user chimed in, saying: “Such a pleasure to hear Trump speak candidly about boxing and MMA. No politics nor BS.”
While Trump has managed to win over the UFC and its loyal fanbase, his popularity in the combat sports space is not universal. Longtime UFC color commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan, revealed last year that he repeatedly turned down Trump as a guest on his popular podcast despite other political candidates including Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, and, most recently, Robert F Kennedy Jr. having airtime
“I’m not a Trump supporter in any way, shape or form,” Rogan said. “I’ve had the opportunity to have him on my show more than once. I’ve said no every time. I don’t want to help him. I’m not interested in helping him.”
