Full Breakdown
Alleged Direct Messages Between Eric Trump and Daniel Cormier Prompt Hacking Claims and Denials
6/18/2026, 5:50:54 AM
Alleged DM Exchange and Viral Post
On June 14, 2026, Daniel Cormier posted a screenshot on X that appeared to show a direct-message exchange with Eric Trump, in which Trump allegedly asked if any UFC fights at the White House event would be “rigged.” The post was deleted within minutes, but screenshots spread online.
Event Context
UFC Freedom 250, the first UFC card held on the White House South Lawn, marked President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Cormier served as a commentator for the broadcast.
Principal Actors
Daniel Cormier (former UFC champion), Eric Trump (Trump Organization executive vice-president), UFC, Twitter/X, and Trump Organization spokesperson Kimberly Benza.
Timeline
- June 14 evening: Cormier’s X post with alleged DM screenshots goes live, then is deleted.
- June 14–15: Cormier learns of the post at the event; UFC social-media staff inform him.
- June 15: Cormier states on YouTube his account was hacked and he would “never engage in those conversations.”
- June 15–16: Eric Trump posts on X that the screenshots are AI-generated fakes and that he never spoke to Cormier.
- June 17: Journalist Adam Martin claims he saw the original tweet, calling it “100 % real.”
Official Statements
Eric Trump denied any DM exchange, calling the images AI-generated fabrications. Kimberly Benza of the Trump Organization repeated that the screenshots were fabricated and warned of misinformation. UFC officials declined comment. Cormier, in his YouTube interview, said his account had been compromised, that he does not follow Eric Trump, and that he would not discuss fight integrity.
Criticism and Reaction
Social-media users mocked the episode, and sponsors contacted Cormier for clarification. Some observers, including Adam Martin, questioned the hacking claim.
Conflicting Reports
Cormier asserts a hack; Eric Trump asserts AI-generated fakes; Adam Martin says he saw the tweet. No forensic analysis has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary.” — Eric Trump, X
- “These screenshots are fake. They were fabricated and do not reflect reality,” — Kimberly Benza, Trump Organization, X
- “I go to the event, and they're telling me, they're talking to me about something that I have no idea is going on. I have no idea how long it was up, I have no idea how long it had been taken down. Whoever did this, whoever hacked my Twitter, they posted, took it down, because they think that people are going to believe stuff like that. At the end of the day, I would never do anything like that. I would never engage in those conversations. I would never go to Twitter and post that after engaging in those conversations. I just wouldn't do that. That's not what I do.” — Daniel Cormier, YouTube interview
- “Since I’ve gotten a few DMs about this -- yes, the DC tweet was 100% real, I saw it myself,” — Adam Martin, X
Outlook
The dispute remains unresolved; Cormier continues to seek account recovery while both sides maintain their denials. Media scrutiny is likely to continue as the UFC Freedom 250 event’s legacy is assessed.
