Senator Lindsey Graham and UFC CEO Dana White have criticized UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit over comments he made about Michelle Obama following his win at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on Sunday.
Hokit sparked a backlash after using his post-fight interview to repeat false claims about the former first lady. After winning his heavyweight fight against Derrick Lewis, Hokit thanked President Donald Trump for hosting the event before ending the interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan by saying: “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right, America?”
Newsweek has contacted the White House and Michelle Obama’s office for comment.
The claim by Hokit has circulated for years as an unfounded conspiracy theory.
Graham told TMZ on Monday that Hokit’s comments were “not good” and called him an “idiot.”
“It took away from the event,” the Republican senator said.
“It was a fun event. It was to celebrate America’s founding, who we are as a nation…It was sort of a modern-day gladiators fighting hard and shaking each other’s hand and the spirit of sports. That was not the spirit of sports.”
Asked what his reaction was when he heard Hokit’s comments, Graham said: “The guy was an idiot.”
White also condemned Hokit, telling Time magazine in a text message: “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.”
White House Spokesman Dodges Question
CNN’s Jake Tapper reported on X that White House spokesman Steven Cheung avoided a question about Hokit’s comment, instead saying on Monday that Hokit “had a great win last night.”
“He showed toughness and the ability to pressure his opponent both on his feet and on the ground,” Cheung said.
In another post on X, Tapper wrote: “When asked: ‘The WH understandably protests when people insult first lady Trump. How does your refusal to criticize Hokit for his remarks about First Lady Obama square with that?” the WH would not directly answer the question.”
Video from CNN showed Trump half-smiling and removing a chain given to him earlier by Hokit, immediately after the fighter’s comment.
The White House shared a clip of the moment Hokit placed the chain on Trump’s neck. on X, with the caption “real” and a “100” emoji.
Hokit’s comment sparked backlash from both sides of the political aisle, with some urging the president to denounce it.
Juliana Stratton, the lieutenant governor of Illinois and a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, wrote on X: “Disgusting and blatant racism from Josh Hokit at the White House last night. This is who Donald Trump platforms, aligns himself with, and refuses to denounce.”
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and a Trump supporter, said on the Wake Up Barstool podcast on Monday: “The president can use the White House however he wants. There was one moment I do think Trump has to denounce and everybody associated with it has to denounce.
“And that’s that crazy fighter guy—I don’t even have his name up here—but he won the fight, he took the microphone, and he made a derogatory comment about Michelle Obama.”
Calling UFC fighters “idiots,” Portnoy added: “When you have that on the White House lawn at an event you put down, I don’t care what you think about the Obamas or anything. That has to be an immediate denounce, like, ‘Wrong, doesn’t speak for me.’”
Representative Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, wrote on X: “OK, so let me get this straight…the dude who puked on himself live on TV during his weigh in, is hurling insults at the former first lady now? Disgusting. Welcome to the Trump Administration.”
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also criticized Hokit, writing: “Josh Hokit won the biggest fight of his career at the White House and decides to finish his interview by calling Michelle Obama a man. What a disgrace.”
Griffin added that “it takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man,” noting the historical context of such insults being directed toward Black women.
Dan Bongino Sees Funny Side
Bongino, a conservative pundit who served as the deputy director of the FBI from March 2025 until January, told TMZ that Hokit’s comment was “funny.”
Asked for comment about it, Bongino chuckled before saying: “I think it was, it was probably the most unexpected and unintentionally hilarious moment of the night. The whole place kind of erupted.”
When TMZ’s Charlie Cotton noted that it was “weird” at an event celebrating the nation, Bongino was dismissive.
“You got to smile a little bit. It was funny,” he said. “It’s Hokit.”
Trump Praises Event
In a Truth Social post early Monday, the president said the event was “incredible” and it was “one of the most exciting days” in the history of the White House.
“The weather was scheduled to be horrendous, and it turned out to be PERFECT! So much for weather predicting,” the president wrote.
“The Fighters were outstanding—Bo Nickal, Justin Gaethje, Ciryl Gane, Sean O’Malley, Josh Hokit, Mauricio Ruffy, and Diego Lopes were all unbelievable! Most people have never seen anything like that kind of human speed and power before. The White House has never looked more beautiful,” he continued.
“The setting was unsurpassed! Congratulations to Dana White, and his unbelievable UFC. One of the most exciting days in the History of our fabled White House!”
What Was UFC Freedom 250?
UFC Freedom 250 was the first professional sporting event to be held at the White House, with seven fights taking place.
It was organized to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and coincided with Flag Day and Trump’s 80th birthday.
