Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
UPDATE: Eric Trump has taken to X/Twitter to deny sending any direct messages to Daniel Cormier. Cormier has also posted an additional tweet.
“This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary,” Eric Trump wrote on social media at 8:16 p.m. EST.
“We are aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots being circulated online. I have never spoken to Daniel. He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated,” the second Trump son added in a second statement at 8:35 p.m. EST.
Trump’s second statement confirmed that Cormier deleted the tweet, which means it must have been real to begin with, otherwise there would be nothing to delete in the first place.
His other assertion that they were “AI generated screenshots,” however, contradicts the notion that Cormier deleted the post — unless he’s suggesting that Cormier knowingly generated the screenshots on his own with AI and posted them to social media knowing they were fake. It’s possible for screenshots to be created by AI. What’s not possible, however, is AI somehow taking over Cormier’s account to post the photos and then subsequently deleting them.
If the suggestion is that Cormier was fooled by AI screenshots of Trump DMing him, that doesn’t track logically either, as the DMs were to Cormier’s account, meaning he could have just checked his DMs himself and not had to consult any screenshots at all.
Cormier also posted a follow-up tweet, although his was more vague: “Are people really this dumb?” Cormier posted at 7:38 p.m. EST.
Original article:
Screenshot photos of Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, DMing former UFC star and current commentator Daniel Cormier to ask if any of the fights at the UFC Freedom 250 event are “rigged” went viral on social media just a couple hours prior to the start of the event. Sports fans on social media have been unable to determine if the post is real due to Cormier allegedly deleting it.
“I’m probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light, however I refuse to stay silent… Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event,” the since-deleted post from Daniel Cormier, attached to photos of alleged DMs from Eric Trump, read.
In the age of easy-access AI, determining whether or not a screenshot is real has become exceedingly difficult, thus the confusion over the post’s validity. Adam Martin, however, a podcast host who claims to have over 15 years of experience as an MMA journalist, tweeted that he saw Cormier’s post with his own eyes and that it’s real.
MMA journalist Adam Martin and Front Office Sports reporter AJ Perez confirm that the post by Daniel Cormier about DMs from Eric Trump was real
DC just tweeted and deleted this. I saw it myself. Crazy stuff. https://t.co/dLbL2QDJsW
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) June 14, 2026
Martin, however, added that while the post was real in terms of being shared and then deleted from Cormier’s account, he suggested that Eric Trump could have had his account hacked as the DMs were “a bit weird.”
“I will say that the DMs from Trump were a bit weird. I do wonder if he got hacked and some hacker sent the DMs to DC. But DC’s post 100% was legit. He pulled the classic Jon Jones ‘tweet and delete’ move. Hopefully, he comments on this sometime tonight. DC didn’t do anything wrong BTW.”
“Since I’ve gotten a few DMs about this — yes, the DC tweet was 100% real, I saw it myself. Others saw it. People screen captured it. DC tweeted and deleted it quickly, but people screen grabbed it fast, too. Wonder why DC deleted it. Someone got into his ear quickly, I guess,” Martin said in an additional statement.
I will say that the DMs from Trump were a bit weird. I do wonder if he got hacked and some hacker sent the DMs to DC.
But DC’s post 100% was legit. He pulled the classic Jon Jones “tweet and delete” move.
Hopefully, he comments on this sometime tonight.
DC didn’t do anything… https://t.co/Fs7DR07XEX
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) June 14, 2026
AJ Perez, a documentary producer and reporter at Front Office Sports also confirmed that the post from Cormier is real.
Eric Trump trying to squeeze UFC Hall of Famer/broadcaster Dan Cormier for inside info is disgusting. @danawhite has to be pleased members of the Trump family think UFC is fixed. Cormier deleted the tweet (below) within a couple minutes. pic.twitter.com/EamutBHEIq
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) June 14, 2026
“I covered UFC, including a couple of DC’s title fights. He lives in my hometown and he coaches wrestling where I went HS. I’d never make s— up, but if I ever did, it wouldn’t be off a man I respect,” Perez said when an X/Twitter user question him on whether or not the post was real. “You think I’d risk my reputation by making s— up about UFC? Props to DC for calling it out. You can guess why it was only up for less than 10 mins.”
The MMA fan account that Martin quote-tweeted also shared a video of him coming across the tweet on his own — before then clicking it to see it has been removed.
— Sean O’Meowlly🍭 (@NeedMyNutsLickt) June 14, 2026
Yahoo Sports (via SB Nation), USA Today, MMA Junkie, and Sports Illustrated have since picked up the story and reported on the post.
“Hey Daniel, I’m gonna be attending UFC 250 tomorrow, saw you were casting. Hope to see you there,” Eric Trump began the exchange. He then asked Cormier a series of questions, such as:
“Anything that you can tell me about the fighters tomorrow? Who you got winning? You placing any bets? Are any of the fighters injured that you know of?”
With Cormier deflecting and denying to answer any of Trump’s questions, Donald Trump’s second son “cut to the chase” and asked Cormier if any of the fights are rigged.
“I’ll just cut to the chase. Are any of the fights tomorrow rigged? I’ve been eyeing the Lopes fight and I think an upset wouldn’t be too unrealistic. $$”
Diego Lopez is scheduled to fight Steve Garcia in a featherweight bout. At the time of this writing, Diego Lopes is the favorite over Steve Garcia with odds of -162. Garcia’s odds as an underdog are +136.
Cormier’s shocking post isn’t the only issue the UFC is facing tonight. Despite all of the marketing saying the fights will begin at 8 p.m. EST, they’ve been delayed an hour to 9 p.m. EST.
Weather could also be a massive issue. According to The Weather Channel, there is “a 60% chance of thunderstorms, heavy downpours, and wind gusts up to 34 mph threatening to delay the outdoor fights” in addition to “brutal D.C. humidity driving a triple-digit heat index alongside massive swarms of mosquitos and gnats that fighters will have to battle inside the cage.”
Should lightning strike anywhere within 8 miles of the White House during the production, it will trigger an automatic 30-minute freeze on the event.