Although he exists as arguably the most polarizing figure in all of American politics, Donald Trump stands as a highly popular celebrity in the world of mixed martial arts, specifically the UFC. Making regular appearances at shows alongside his usual cohorts of Elon Musk and Kid Rock, the two-time President of the United States never fails to draw a sizable welcome from attendees. This level of admiration also extends to fighters on the company’s roster, which includes some of the greatest competitors on the planet. From endorsing the former host of The Apprentice for the Oval Office, to standing alongside him in that very same room, Trump has rubbed elbows with a few of the sport’s most elite names.
These are three of the most notable UFC stars that have been involved with Donald Trump.
Notable Trump Supporters in UFC: Henry Cejudo
There are very few names in the UFC as credentialed as previous double champion Henry Cejudo. During his time as one of the pound-for-pound greats of the organization, the Olympic gold medalist reached the highest highs by capturing both the flyweight and bantamweight titles. Retiring from the sport for three years, “Triple C” returned to action back in 2023 at UFC 288, falling short of his once-held 135-lb throne against Aljamain Sterling. Since then, Cejudo has remained outside of the winner’s circle, collecting two more losses to Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong.
While his time at the top of the sport has come to a conclusive end, Cejudo is still regarded as a massively admired name in the UFC. This level of notoriety has allowed him to cross paths with Trump on more than a few occasions, with the California native once being personally invited to speak at one of his rallies. Proving to be an outspoken advocate of the politician, Cejudo has also utilized his online presence in the past to encourage voters to side with Trump. Meeting together just recently at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championship Finals, the two exchanged greetings before Cejudo revealed to Trump that he would be hanging up his gloves after his next bout.
Trump Supporters in UFC: Jorge Masvidal
When it comes to jumping into superstardom in mixed martial arts in no time at all, Jorge Masvidal may just be the prime example. Following a brief time away from fighting from 2017 to 2019, the Floridian kick started a colossal rise after picking up three wins in a row over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz, becoming the first ever BMF champion in the process. Sadly, over the next few years, “Gamebred” encountered a great deal of setbacks, with him losing four fights back-to-back before announcing his departure from competition at UFC 287.
Although Trump had a bevy of notable fighters and UFC pundits backing his run towards a second presidency last year, none may have helped sway the results of the election for him than Masvidal. Traveling out to Hialeah in Florida to participate in a rally in 2023, the American Top Team standout turned out to be a key factor in the upcoming presidential race, with Trump openly stating that Masvidal’s vocal support helped to win over Hispanic voters in the state. This was very much the case with Miami in particular, which is Masvidal’s hometown and a frequent host to a slew of big UFC cards, like UFC 287, where the previous street brawler ended his career.
Trump Supporters in UFC: Colby Covington
When it comes to naming some of the greatest competitors to never win undisputed UFC gold, Colby Covington may just crack the top of the list. For the majority of his run in the promotion, “Chaos” had set himself apart from the rest of the division , acquiring wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley and Masvidal. Gaining the interim strap, Covington vied for the undisputed title thrice, failing on every attempt to Kamaru Usman twice and Leon Edwards. Last seen in December, the grappling specialist lost a main event tussle with Joaquin Buckley, who beat the brakes off of him en route to a dominant third round TKO victory.
Out of all the athletes on the UFC roster, Covington undoubtedly holds the most favoritism with Trump, with the President going as far as to take a picture with him inside the Oval Office. In fact, the two appear to be so friendly that Trump even called the welterweight contender directly after his win over the previously mentioned Woodley back in 2020. Over the past seven years, the former company champion has stayed committed to helping Trump connect with UFC fans and the general public (sometimes to his own detriment). For several of Covington’s most high-profile organizational showings, Trump has been a staple cageside observer, last seen witnessing the three-time title challenger drop a lop-sided decision to Edwards in 2023.
