Sean Strickland rips Justin Gaethje's continued Trump support

Sean Strickland has publicly criticized Justin Gaethje's continued support for President Trump and the Republican Party, questioning how the UFC lightweight champion can maintain his allegiance given alleged unfulfilled campaign promises.

Strickland (31-7), the UFC middleweight champion, was once a vocal Trump supporter but has since become a critic. In a post on X, Strickland challenged Gaethje's MAGA stance by listing what he views as broken or failed promises: border security and deportation (which he says was only partly kept), avoidance of new military conflicts (which he claims failed), cost of living concerns (failed), and government spending (failed). Strickland also mocked Trump's proposal to distribute a $5,000 "dividend" to every American adult if Republicans win the midterms, sarcastically suggesting the money would ultimately be paid for by future generations.

Strickland's criticism reflects a broader shift in his political positioning. Once aligned with Trump-supporting fighters like Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, Strickland has moved away from that camp, now viewing the former president's record in office as falling short of his campaign rhetoric. His public disagreement with Gaethje highlights internal divisions within the UFC fighter roster regarding politics and allegiances, a contrast to the unified support Trump has received from many athletes in the sport.