Donald Trump Applauds Henry Cejudo and Justin Gaethje During 2020 Re-Election Campaign
Donald Trump, former President of the United States, took a moment during his 2020 re-election campaign to commend two prominent UFC fighters, Henry Cejudo and Justin Gaethje, for their remarkable athletic achievements. These words of praise were delivered during an indoor rally held in Nevada in September 2020, where Trump, accompanied by a select group of UFC fighters and Dana White, the head of the organization, addressed the attendees.
At the rally, held at an Xtreme manufacturing facility in Henderson, along with other notable UFC fighters, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, and then-interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje were present, accompanied by their manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
During his speech, Trump expressed admiration for Dana White, whom he has considered a friend for many years. He referred to the fighters as individuals not to be trifled with, acknowledging their impressive physical capabilities.
Trump first directed his attention to Henry Cejudo, famously known as ‘Triple C.’ He highlighted Cejudo’s exceptional career, emphasizing his double championship triumphs:
Another great, great champion, Henry Cejudo, who is one of the best in the world. Henry, please stand. You won the championship twice, right, Henry? He won it twice. Don’t mess with him.
The former president further lauded Justin Gaethje, praising his prowess and upcoming fight against the top-rated pound-for-pound fighter:
So one of the best fighters in the world, he’s got a tremendous fight coming up against I guess the No.1-rated pound for pound fighter, Justin Gaethje! Please stand up, Justin. And you feel good about that fight? He said he’s going to knock him out.
This event showcased Trump’s zeal for combat sports, which had been evident through his regular attendance at various UFC events in recent years. Just last December, he was spotted in the VIP section of the T-Mobile Arena, supporting Covington as one of the esteemed celebrity guests at UFC 296.
On the subject of Henry Cejudo, who came out of retirement in 2023, it appears that he may be preparing for his final appearance in the octagon in 2024. After suffering a championship defeat to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 in May, Cejudo views his upcoming fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 as a title eliminator. Success in this bout could award him the opportunity to challenge the winner of the bantamweight title match between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera at UFC 299 later in the year.
However, Cejudo acknowledges that if he does not achieve the desired outcome on February 17th, it may spell the end of his mixed martial arts career. Juggling training camps, fatherhood, and personal commitments has proven to be challenging, leading him to contemplate leaving the sport altogether.
I think after losing to Aljamain, I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again. Yeah, man. Because it’s just like, this sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids and things like that. It’s all or nothing, man, Cejudo explained during a recent appearance on The HJR Experiment podcast.
As fans await Cejudo’s next fight and reflect on the praise bestowed upon the fighters by Donald Trump, their attention turns to the octagon, where these formidable athletes continue to captivate audiences with their exceptional skill and determination.
