Donald Trump has confirmed the long-term rumour that he once broke up a fight including NBA legend Kobe Bryant, during an interview with Jake Paul.
Trump sat down with YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul earlier this week as they met for a rally in Kentucky, where the pair spoke about a number of issues including the Iran war, the 2024 assassination attempt on his life, and Paul's boxing and aspiring political career.
The President of the United States has been around celebrity circles for many years, long before his political career ever took off, and it has been reported for several years that he was present during a huge brawl that took place in 1998. Now, he has confirmed the truth behind the rumour.
What Was The Trump-Kobe Fight Rumour?
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
The rumour about Trump's involvement in a fight stems back to the NBA All-Star game way back in 1998, where he was attending the game in New York.
According to Jeff Pearlman, Trump was in a hotel elevator at the Grand Hyatt hotel alongside legendary basketball stars Jayson Williams, and Charles Oakley, when then-phenom Kobe walked in.
The story goes that Williams wasn't a fan of the way Bryant greeted him in the elevator, feeling that young players should give veterans more respect, and was so offended by what followed that he opted to throw a punch. It has been rumoured that Trump got involved at the time to de-escalate the situation, although it had never been confirmed - until now.
Jake Paul asked Trump during their sit-down chat if he had ever been in a fight himself, then brought up the rumour about the situation back in 1998, which the President was only too happy to confirm.
"That was a long time ago.
"Yeah, well I was breaking up a fight, which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight.
"But I like Kobe. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody and it worked out fine. But yeah, I broke it up -- probably not a smart thing to do. Historically, it's never good to break up fights."
Trump Wants Paul to Fight Khabib
Donald Trump and Jake Paul
The interview also saw the two viral superstars talk about Paul's boxing career, and when asked who he wants Paul to fight next, Trump gave an odd answer by calling for Khabib Nurmagomedov to step into the ring with him.
Khabib is considered to be one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time after a glittering 29-0 career that saw him retire from the UFC as the undisputed lightweight champion. The Dagestani fighter hasn't stepped back into a ring or cage since, after making the decision to retire following the death of his father
But Trump would like to see Paul step into the ring and go toe-to-toe with the legendary martial artist, regardless of how unlikely it is to happen.
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