Trump Faces Pressure to Condemn UFC Fighter's Michelle Obama Slur at 80th Birthday Event
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 16
Trump Faces Pressure to Condemn UFC Fighter's Michelle Obama Slur at 80th Birthday Event
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 16
Summary
Josh Hokit used a microphone at Sunday’s White House UFC event to shout “Michelle Obama is a man,” prompting new pressure on Donald Trump to publicly denounce the remark.
CNN reported Trump appeared to half-smile after the outburst, while the White House did not respond to requests for comment and critics said his silence amplified the insult.
Dave Portnoy, a Trump backer, and UFC chief Dana White both said the comment should be condemned, while Donna Brazile, Sunny Hostin and Robert Griffin III called it racist and sexist.
Dan Bongino defended Hokit as making a joke, underscoring a split on the right over an event already criticized as debasing the White House ahead of the 250th anniversary of independence.
The episode fits a broader pattern of racist abuse targeting Michelle Obama; earlier this year Trump shared, then deleted, a clip depicting the Obamas as apes after backlash.