In the leadup to America’s 250th birthday, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House became a platform for a long-debunked claim targeting a former first lady.
After winning a bout, UFC fighter Josh Hokit used his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan to amplify the claim that former first lady Michelle Obama isn’t a woman.
“And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” Hokit said.
News reports said the remark drew some laughter from the audience.
PolitiFact has fact-checked various versions of the claim that Obama is or was a man, dating back to 2020. There remains no evidence. Obama, born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, was never a man.
In attempts to prove the conspiracy theory, people have circulated altered images of Obama, an out-of-context video clip of Obama’s podcast interview with actor and comedian Marlon Wayans and an unverified voter registration card. Other fact-checkers have also debunked the narrative.
UFC CEO Dana White told Time in a text message, “I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families.”
Other powerful women, such as France’s first lady Brigitte Macron and former Vice President Kamala Harris, have also been targeted with claims they are men. Experts told PolitiFact such conspiracy theories seek to undermine their power and achievements.
We contacted Hokit and receive no response.
We rate his claim that Michelle Obama is a man Pants on Fire!
