President Trump‘s son, Eric Trump, denied the authenticity of alleged Instagram DMs circulating online between him and UFC analyst Daniel Cormier. At the same time, Cormier later suggested hackers compromised his social media account after the screenshots spread widely on X.
The controversy erupted ahead of UFC Freedom 250 on the White House grounds when hackers leaked fabricated screenshots. The messages showed a fake Eric asking if anyone had “rigged” the night’s fights. Eric quickly rejected the claim, describing the screenshots as fake and AI-generated.
According to multiple reports, he said he had never spoken with Cormier. Cormier deleted the post, which Eric said further indicated someone fabricated the messages.
Cormier’s account also shared unrelated crypto posts, proof of hack, some say
Cormier, a UFC Hall of Famer turned analyst, posted a message on X asking, “Are people really this dumb?” following the spread of the screenshots and the subsequent deletion of the original post. Observers speculated that someone hacked the account, as subsequent activity showed unrelated cryptocurrency promotions, a theory Cormier later confirmed to reporters outside the venue, according to Forbes.
“We are aware of the fake, AI-generated screenshots being circulated online,” Eric wrote on social media, according to reports from multiple outlets, including Newsweek. Reports indicate he also called the situation “scary” and warned about misinformation online.
In addition to the allegations of fixed fights, the compromised screenshots included fake messages in which someone posing as Eric inquired about undisclosed injured athletes. In the fraudulent exchange, Cormier responded that no one fixed the UFC fights and expressed concern about the question itself.
The Trump-Cormier controversy unfolded against the backdrop of UFC Freedom 250, a high-profile fight card hosted on the White House South Lawn. The event marked the first major professional sporting event held at the White House and coincided with celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 80th birthday.
Cormier, 47, ranks among the most recognizable figures in mixed martial arts. He won UFC championships in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions and now works as an analyst and commentator for UFC broadcasts. The promotion selected him for the broadcast team for the White House event.
The card featured seven fights and drew a crowd that included political figures, celebrities, and UFC personalities. Reports indicate the fight card experienced only minor one-hour weather delays before concluding Sunday night.
Justin Gaethje won the main event, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by defeating the previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria via a 4th-round corner stoppage to capture the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship. Gaethje severely injured Topuria with a suspected broken orbital bone.
According to post-fight updates from UFC officials, medical staff immediately escorted him from the octagon, rushing him straight to a local D.C. hospital before the official hand-raising occurred, Post Wrestling reported.
Published: Jun 15, 2026 06:00 pm