Tyson and Paris Fury Face Backlash After White House Photo and ‘Prime Minister Trump Hat’
Tyson Fury’s appearance at the White House UFC event has become a political controversy on the Internet.
The former heavyweight champion attended UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on Sunday, June 14, wearing a cap that read “Donald Trump for Prime Minister,” according to The Independent.
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Fury later posed for a photo with President Donald Trump, UFC president Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg, then posted the photo on Instagram with the caption, “A photo of power,” The Sun reported.
The photo and hat quickly drew criticism from some fans, with the Daily Mail and Metro reporting that commentators questioned Furys public support for Trump after the White House appearance.
Fury Posted Photo of White House After UFC Event
Fury attended the event in a black and yellow suit and Trump hat, making a grand entrance before sending off from the White House grounds. Ilanga reported that the boxer thanked the Saudi boxing official, Turki Alalshikh, for helping to make the trip happen and described that night as the first time he returned to the United States in almost five years.
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The photo that got the most attention shows Fury standing with Trump, White and Zuckerberg. Fury wrote, “Image of power. @realdonaldtrump @danawhite @zuck no words needed!” according to the Sun.
Another post on Fury’s Facebook page supported Trump as UK prime minister, using the phrase “President Donald J. Trump UK PM,” adding the hashtag “makebritaingreatagain” and tagging Paris Fury, according to the Daily Mail.
Metro reported that some commenters called the photos “disappointing,” while the Daily Mail reported that some fans accused the couple of forgetting their values. Fury and Paris did not appear to publicly respond to the criticism at the time of the reports.
The White House UFC Card Was A Political Spectacle
UFC Freedom 250 was no ordinary sports event. The event was held on the White House South Lawn as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday, according to CBS News.
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The Associated Press published photos of the event showing the octagon set up on the South Lawn and Trump arriving with White. CBS News reported that mixed martial arts fighters competed on the White House grounds, with Justin Gaethje defeating Ilia Topuria in the main card fight.
The event included celebrity guests, UFC branding, the White House and Trump’s birthday celebration, while protests were held outside, according to The Guardian.
Fury Rejoices With Boxing Announcement
The trip to the White House also gave boxing fans another reason to watch Fury’s next move. The Sun reported that his visit is the first time he has returned to the US since October 2021 when he defeated Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas.
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Fury teased a “big” announcement while in Washington, DC, and Alalshikh revealed news related to Fury’s potential fight with Anthony Joshua, according to The Sun. Fury’s manager Spencer Brown also said that Fury is expected to have a training fight in Ireland on August 1.
