Trump goes on bizarre posting spree about 'greatest' friend Muhammad Ali ahead of midterms

13:44 ET, 31 Oct 2026Updated 13:51 ET, 31 Oct 2026

President Donald Trump appeared to reminisce about legendary boxer Muhammad Ali just days before the midterms on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Trump appeared to post footage of the historic March 8, 1971 "Fight of the Century" bout between Ali and Joe Frazier on his Truth Social account. The heavyweight championship match was considered one of the biggest in history, marking the first time two undefeated boxers who held the world heavyweight title fought each other.

Historically, Frazier won the fight that evening by unanimous decision, marking Ali's first-ever professional loss. Moments after posting the clip of the fight, Trump reposted it with a screenshot of an X post made by Joshua Aweda, a boxing and MMA historian, who called the fight the "worst defeat of Ali."

"Two undefeated champions. Two completely different styles," wrote Aweda. "Fifteen brutal rounds that tested everything they had. Ali had the speed, movement, and mouth. Frazier had relentless pressure, a vicious left hook, and the heart to keep coming forward. JOE FRAZIER DIDN'T JUST BEAT MUHAMMAD ALI THAT NIGHT. HE PROVED THAT EVEN THE GREATEST CAN BE BROKEN."

It is unclear if the president was attempting to conflate Ali's fight with Frazier to his ongoing political fight with the Democrats.

Trump, 80, had a decades-long friendship with Ali, and praised him as a "terrific guy" in a 2016 New York Times interview following the legendary athlete's death. Trump, who at the time was a first-time presidential candidate, heaped praise on Ali, calling him "so generous" and an "amazing poet."

"He was two people," Trump said of Ali in an interview. "In the ring, he was fierce, and outside of the ring, he was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet."

Trump and Ali's friendship can be traced back to at least the 1980s. In 2005, Ali attended Trump's wedding to Melania in Palm Beach, Fla., and Trump would attend Ali's charity events.

Trump had told the Times that he credited Ali's "Fight of the Century" with sparking his love of boxing. He told the outlet that the fight was "the greatest sporting event that I've ever seen."

At one point, their relationship appeared to face some friction; however, after Ali released a statement that seemed critical of Trump's calls for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.