Eric Trump is speaking out after ‘fake’ leaked messages between him and an ex-UFC star asking if any of the White House fights were ‘rigged’ went viral.
The controversy started when former fighter Daniel Cormier’s X account posted messages that appeared to be from President Donald Trump’s middle son.
In the supposed correspondence, Eric Trump asked if any of the fighters appearing at the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House’s South Lawn were injured, or if Cormier planned to place any bets. It immediately sparked rampant ‘cheating’ concerns on social media.
Cormier had been tapped to announce the fights alongside podcaster Joe Rogan at the event, which was held as part of the country’s 250th birthday celebration, but also marked the President’s 80th birthday.
‘I’m probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light, however I refuse to stay silent,’ Cormier wrote in a caption posted with screengrabs of Eric Trump’s supposed messages.
‘The UFC is a sport that I am deeply passionate about. I will not tolerate this type of insider behavior. Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event.’
Cormier has since deleted the post and told DC-based journalist Nicholas Ballasy that his account had been hacked.
‘They’re not real,’ Cormier said of the Eric Trump posts. ‘I can’t believe you guys believed that, like, who believes something like that?’
‘I got hacked or something,’ Cormier added, talking to Ballasy as he departed the White House at the conclusion of the UFC event early Monday morning.
Eric Trump (right) attends the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House Sunday night. On social media, the President’s middle son made clear that messages purportedly sent by him to a former fighting star were faked
Daniel Cormier (left) alongside podcaster Joe Rogan (right) at the UFC Freedom 250 event Sunday night on the White House’s South Lawn. Cormier has said the Eric Trump messages he received were fake and a result of a hack
The journalist then asked, ‘So you didn’t post it?’
‘Why would I do that?’ Cormier said, getting into his car.
Cormier posted a similar sentiment on his X account.
On his own social media accounts, Eric Trump made clear the messages were bogus.
‘This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary,’ he posted Sunday night as the fights were getting underway.
He followed that up by posting the video of Cormier’s interview with Ballasy.
Eric Trump then thanked the UFC great.
The allegations put a damper on the night, which was also roiled when UFC fighter Joe Hokit announced to the crowd, ‘Michelle Obama is a man.’
Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn
The President and First Lady posed with family members, including Eric Trump (fifth from right), in the Octagon after the fights wrapped up early Monday morning
The openly partisan and insulting comment delivered at an event meant to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary has drawn widespread condemnation.
Freedom 250, which organized the UFC spectacle, was created by Trump via executive order so the President could have some sway over the 250th birthday celebration.
Previously, the bipartisan group America250 had been created by Congress for the role.
Musical acts booked to play on the National Mall as part of Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair have already bowed out due to the partisan leanings of the organizer.
