© Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Dave Portnoy has some thoughts about this weekend’s UFC White House event.
On Sunday, the UFC held an event on the South Lawn of the White House, and while everything ran pretty smoothly, Josh Hokit’s bizarre postfight comments have been one of the most talked about moments of the night.
After defeating Derrick Lewis, Hokit called former First Lady Michelle Obama a man.
“Michelle Obama is a man” shouted on the White House lawn in a ring sponsored by Bud Light only available on Larry Ellison’s Paramount Plus. What a way to celebrate America 250 and the twilight of liberal democracy. pic.twitter.com/MCTjdB3slg
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) June 15, 2026
On Monday morning’s Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy called on President Trump to denounce Hokit’s comments
“There was one moment I do think Trump has to denounce, and anybody associated with it has to denounce,” Portnoy said. “And that’s that crazy fighter guy…he won the fight, he took the microphone, and he made a derogatory comment about Michelle Obama.”
“When you have that on the White House lawn on an event you put on, I don’t care what you think about the Obamas or anything, that has to be an immediate denounce,” Portnoy continued. “I have no problem with the event. I guess you run that risk because these guys are lunatics. But that was the only thing, Trump should denounce it.”
Dave Portnoy calls on Trump to denounce the Michelle Obama slur that took place on the White House south lawn. pic.twitter.com/m2yuooycFh
— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) June 15, 2026
While Trump has yet to make any public statements regarding Hokit’s comments, UFC CEO Dana White publicly condemned his fighter’s outburst on the White House lawn.
“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.”