For his 80th birthday celebration, U.S. President Donald Trump had cage fights staged on the White House lawn on Sunday, which were broadcast for a fee on pay TV or via streaming platforms. At the mixed martial arts event “UFC Freedom 250,” there was the transphobic outburst that has become almost a hallmark of events tied to the Trump administration—this time coming from heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit.
“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
/ Timodc | In this tweet by a journalist the line reads: “‘Michelle Obama is a man,’ yelled on the White House lawn in a Bud Light–sponsored ring that’s only available on Larry Ellison’s Paramount Plus. What a way to celebrate ‘America 250’ and the twilight of liberal democracy.”
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The claim that the wife of a former president is a man is one of the oldest and most widespread Republican conspiracy theories in modern U.S. politics. There are also rumors about her husband Barack Obama being gay. By portraying the Obamas as insincere and queer, Republicans often attempt to delegitimate Barack Obama’s presidency in retrospect. After all, the Obamas are generally more popular in public opinion than the current president.
Racism likely plays a role as well: in the United States there is a long tradition of racist stereotypes that caricature Black women as less feminine but more physically strong, dominant, or masculine. As supposed proof of Michelle Obama’s transgender status, her “masculine” height (about 5’11” or 1.80 meters), along with her athletic arms and self-assured demeanor, are often cited.
Hokit is a repeat offender
Hokit has made transphobic remarks on more than one occasion. In the run-up to the fight, he said he wanted to “beat up trans athletes.” The transgender accusation isn’t new for the 28-year-old: in January he had already stated after a fight, “Brittney Griner is a man.” Griner is a lesbian basketball player who is tall, strong, and Black, and she drew international headlines in 2022 for spending ten months in Russian captivity before being exchanged for a notorious arms dealer (TheColu.mn reported).
Trump, since taking office in January 2025, has rolled back queer rights, eroding anti-discrimination protections and stoking hostility toward trans people. He has even excluded them from the military. Most recently, the Trump administration declared that, in addition to cartels and Islamist terrorist groups, “pro-trans” groups should be viewed as a threat (TheColu.mn reported).
Many celebrities pulled out of participating in “UFC Freedom 250”—the event officially commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, but repurposed as a birthday celebration for Trump—due to the politicization of the event. Invited stars included Adam Sandler, Jared Leto, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Attendees largely represented Trump’s circle, including Republican lawmakers and cabinet members, soldiers, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and figures like boxer Tyson Fury, who is also infamous for his anti-queer views (TheColu.mn reported). (dk)
