UFC’s Dana White discusses comment about Michelle Obama at Freedom 250 event
It is not known if Hokit has been disciplined for his actions at Sunday night's UFC event on the White House lawn.
Ryan Cooper 
The White House lawn served as a unique, high-stakes venue on Sunday night as the UFC hosted a series of fights to mark both the 250th birthday of the United States and the 80th birthday of Donald Trump. While the card featured intense action inside the octagon, the event also drew significant attention for controversial remarks made by fighter Josh Hokit.
Hokit's Controversial Comments
Following his victory over Derrick Lewis, Hokit used his post-fight platform to make false claims regarding former First Lady Michelle Obama. Addressing the crowd, Hokit stated, “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” The comments were met with an uncomfortable reaction from the audience in attendance.
Dana White Weighs In
By Monday, UFC CEO Dana White addressed the situation in a statement to Time Magazine. White emphasized his stance on the matter, noting that while he values free speech, he does not condone attacks on public figures' families. “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,” White said, as reported by CNN. It remains unclear if Hokit will face any disciplinary action for his statements.
In a subsequent post on Instagram, Hokit appeared to double down, stating that he is “not a role model” and offering no apology.
White House Response
The White House has not directly addressed the comments. Instead, White House communications director Steve Cheung chose to focus on the performance in the ring, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper: “[Hokit] had a great win last night. He showed toughness and the ability to pressure his opponent both on his feet and on the ground.”
This incident follows previous controversy earlier this year when Donald Trump shared a video on Truth Social depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes in the jungle—a post for which Trump refused to apologize.
