Daniel Cormier addressed the viral Eric Trump direct message controversy on his YouTube channel, offering his version of events surrounding UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. Throughout the explanation, Cormier maintained that the messages were the result of a hack, while attempting to dismantle what he viewed as obvious inconsistencies in the screenshots.
According to Cormier, he was completely unaware of the situation until he arrived at the event.
“I get to the UFC on Sunday. Two of the UFC social media people are telling me, ‘We were just talking about you,'” Cormier recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, what?’ They said, ‘You and Eric Trump.’ And I was like, ‘What about me and Eric Trump?'”
Cormier said that conversation took place around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and marked the first time he had heard anything about the alleged exchange.
“I have no idea how long it was up. I have no idea how long it had been taken down,” he said.
The former UFC champion placed the blame squarely on a breach of his social media account.
“Whoever hacked my Twitter, they posted, took it down because they think that people are going to believe stuff like that,” he said.
Cormier then questioned why anyone would accept the screenshots as authentic.
“Are people that st*pid?” he asked. “Because to a guy like me, it just doesn’t make sense logically to think that I would do that.”
One of the main points in his defense centered on the mechanics of direct messaging. Cormier argued that the alleged conversation could not have happened because he and Eric Trump do not follow each other on social media.
“In order to have a conversation with someone, you and that person have to follow each other to direct message,” Cormier explained. “We don’t follow each other on any social channels. I don’t follow Eric Trump. Eric Trump doesn’t follow me.”
He also revealed how unfamiliar he was with the Trump family members he encountered at the event.
“If I’m being completely honest, I met Donald Trump Jr. on Saturday and mistook him for Eric Trump,” Cormier admitted.
As part of his rebuttal, Cormier read portions of the alleged messages aloud, highlighting what he viewed as obvious signs that they were fabricated.
“Yo, Eric, didn’t expect a DM from you. Excited to meet you and the family. Much love, brother. Anything you can tell me about the figh ters tomorrow?” he read.
He specifically pointed to references about betting as something that immediately stood out as fake.
“We can’t bet,” Cormier said.
Another detail that caught his attention was the use of a word he insists he would never choose.
“I don’t say flak,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something I use. Just isn’t.”
Cormier closed the segment by reiterating his position in no uncertain terms.
“My Twitter got hacked. Someone got into my account and started posting stuff,” he stated.
He also had a message for media outlets that continued covering the story.
“All you news outlets, leave me alone,” Cormier said. “There was nothing to it.”
What Cormier did not directly address, however, was why Eric Trump’s initial public response described the screenshots as AI-generated rather than the result of a hacked account. He also did not explain reports which claimed suspicious activity was noticed on his account during the live broadcast itself. Those questions remain unanswered.
