Sean O'Malley, the former UFC bantamweight champion, revealed the quip he delivered to President Donald Trump after knocking out Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi at the Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn on June 14. The joke played directly into Trump's ongoing rhetoric about absorbing America's northern neighbor.
In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show podcast released Wednesday, O'Malley recounted shaking Trump's hand and saying, 'Happy birthday, I knocked out a Canadian for you.' He added with a chuckle, 'At least, I think that's what I said. People keep asking me what I said, and I'm trying to recall.'
The remark was a clear nod to Trump's repeated calls to make Canada the '51st State,' a push that has stirred diplomatic tensions and sparked debate over U.S. expansionist ambitions. O'Malley's victory ended Zahabi's seven-fight winning streak, adding a symbolic layer to the bout held during celebrations for America's 250th birthday, which also coincided with Trump's 80th birthday.
Fighting at the White House created a unique atmosphere, O'Malley noted. 'Not overwhelming, not to where I was affected in a negative way. But it definitely felt different because it was at the White House, I was fighting the only Canadian on the card, Trump's birthday, America's birthday. All these extra things.'
O'Malley also gave credit to his opponent, saying, 'Zahabi is tough. He kind of fights weird, and it makes it look sloppy. It makes him look like he's not great. But Aiemann Zahabi's good. He really is. You can't take that away from him.'
The event drew more than 4,000 attendees, including Trump family members, business leaders, administration officials, and members of Congress. Trump greeted fighters cageside throughout the evening, mingling with the crowd in a show of political and cultural spectacle.
However, the celebration was overshadowed by a security scare. On Tuesday, federal authorities announced they had thwarted an alleged plot to attack the UFC event using explosive-laden drones, with multiple individuals now in custody. The incident has raised questions about event security and the administration's handling of threats, a topic that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers like Senator Bill Cassidy, who recently warned that Trump's DNI block risks lives as FISA renewal stalls.
O'Malley's joke also comes amid broader political debates over Trump's foreign policy and economic record. His approval on the economy has hit new lows, below Biden's worst numbers, while his Iran Strait deal has been blasted by GOP senators as 'JCPOA-Plus' blunder. The juxtaposition of a lighthearted moment at the White House with these weighty issues underscores the often surreal intersection of sports and politics in Trump's Washington.
