AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Former President Donald Trump praised UFC fighter Sean Strickland on his Truth Social platform on Thursday. Strickland has made headlines in recent months for his extreme rhetoric, including dressing down a reporter in Canada with a viciously homophobic rant.
“Great Fighter, Sean Strickland, on Saturday Night after a Victory against the Brazilian Champion, Paulo Costa! Sean may not look like a nice guy, but he is – Except in the Ring. Congratulations Sean!” Trump wrote on social media.
Strickland has publicly discussed his past affiliations with the neo-Nazi movement in America and his struggles with mental health. In January, Strickland tore into a Canadian reporter and asked him if he was gay during a discussion about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that turned toward trans rights.
The reporter told Strickland he was an “ally” of the LGBTQ community, which led Strickland to go off on him, saying:
Here’s the thing about Bud Light. Ten years ago, to be trans was a mental fucking illness; and now, all of sudden, people like you have fucking weaseled your way in the world.
You are an infection. You are the definition of weakness. Everything that is wrong with the world is because of fucking you.
UFC President Dana White responded to the ensuing controversy and other off-the-rails statements from Strickland by insisting his organization does not police fighters’ comments. Strickland and Trump also met and posed for a photo on the night of the Nevada primary in February.