Josh Hokit beat Derrick Lewis by TKO on the White House lawn Sunday night, walked over to Donald Trump and placed a gold chain around the president’s neck. Trump smiled, shook his hand and gave him a standing ovation. Then Hokit took the microphone from Joe Rogan and said: “And lastly: Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
What followed left people debating not just the remark itself, but Trump’s reaction to it.
CNN’s footage caught Trump in the front row, seated between Melania and Dana White, and reported he “appeared to show a half-smile” seconds after Hokit’s comment. TMZ’s footage painted a different picture. It showed Trump “waiting a beat before removing the chain” and then appearing to cringe as the crowd reacted around him.
New York Post reporter Steven Nelson, who was part of the press pool that night, also reported that Trump removed the chain shortly after the interview ended. The White House declined to comment despite multiple requests.
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The crowd did not seem entirely sure what to make of it either.
Reports from the South Lawn described a mix of boos, cheers and stunned silence. Rogan appeared uncomfortable but chose not to engage with the remark. He simply said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit,” and the broadcast carried on as if nothing unusual had happened.
That was not the end of the story, though.
UFC later shared an eight second clip of Hokit’s speech on social media. The video stopped before the Michelle Obama comment, leaving out the line that had generated most of the conversation.
Hokit’s full speech left little room for ambiguity.
“Fuck the speech. Aye, shoutout to Trump for having the balls to put some shit like this on,” he began.
He followed that with: “And if I’m gonna say anything, there’s only one person more incredible than the Incredible Hulk, and that’s my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Only then did he deliver the Michelle Obama line, looking straight into the camera.
Dana White later weighed in when speaking to Time.
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” he wrote in a text message.
The comment landed differently because of something White had said only weeks earlier. When ESPN asked whether he would caution fighters about what they say while appearing on federal property, his answer had been simple.
“I never tell people what to say or not to say. Never, ever do it.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
