Eric Trump has pushed back strongly against claims that he contacted UFC commentator Daniel Cormier to ask whether any fights at his father’s White House birthday event were fixed, after alleged screenshots of a message exchange began circulating online.
The screenshots, which were later deleted, appeared to show a conversation involving an account presented as Eric Trump and Cormier. The exchange was tied to UFC Freedom 250, the unusual White House South Lawn card staged on June 14, 2026, as part of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations and the broader America250 commemoration.
“I’ll just cut to the chase…are any of the fights tomorrow rigged?
“I’ve been eyeing the Lopes fight and I think an upset wouldn’t be too unrealistic. $$.”
The screenshots then showed Cormier replying with a firm rejection.
“No none of our fights rigged and honestly I am appalled you would even ask me something like that.”
Cormier was the first to share the alleged exchange publicly. When he posted the screenshots, he said he did not want to ignore an attempt to undermine the event.
“I’m probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light, however I refuse to stay silent. Shame on anyone trying to ruin this beautiful event.”
He later removed the post and appeared to cast doubt on the whole situation with a brief follow-up. Trump later acknowledged that message directly on X.
“Are people really this dumb?”
“Thanks Daniel.”
We are aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots being circulated online. I have never spoken to Daniel. He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated. @UFC @danawhite
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 15, 2026
Trump responded quickly, insisting the screenshots were not genuine and saying he had never contacted Cormier at all. He described the images as fake and said his team had already flagged them as artificial.
“This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary,”
In additional posts, he described the images as fake and said his team was already tracking them.
“AI-generated”
“aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots”
This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary. https://t.co/ZrnIkHBQ4f
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 15, 2026
Trump also argued that Cormier deleting the original post supported his claim that the exchange had been fabricated. Tagging both the UFC and Dana White, he made that point publicly before expanding further in another statement.
“He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated,”
“That is absolutely not me. I didn’t even know who the guy was. This is some kind of AI spoof. This is crazy.”
Despite Trump’s denial, not everyone believes the screenshots were invented from the outset. MMA reporter Adam Martin said he saw Cormier’s original post before it disappeared and insisted that the tweet itself was real.
“Since I’ve gotten a few DMs about this, yes, the DC tweet was 100% real, I saw it myself,”
Since I've gotten a few DMs about this — yes, the DC tweet was 100% real, I saw it myself. Others saw it. People screen captured it.
DC tweeted and deleted it quickly, but people screen grabbed it fast, too.
Wonder why DC deleted it. Someone got into his ear quickly, I guess.
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) June 14, 2026
Martin added that others had seen and captured the post before it was removed, suggesting the deletion happened only after it had already spread online.
“Others saw it. People screen captured it. DC tweeted and deleted it quickly, but people screen grabbed it fast, too. Wonder why DC deleted it. Someone got into his ear quickly, I guess.”
At the same time, he said there was still a possibility the direct messages themselves did not come from Trump personally.
“I do wonder if he got hacked and some hacker sent the DMs to DC,”
“But DC’s post 100% was legit. He pulled the classic Jon Jones ‘tweet and delete’ move.”
The dispute added another controversy to an already divisive night on the White House South Lawn, where UFC Freedom 250 was staged as part of President Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations.
Eric Trump and The Trump Organization have been approached for comment. They have said the messages were not real and AI.