Donald Trump (L) praised MMA fighter Paulo Costa (R) at a recent UFC event in Miami.
'You're a Beautiful Guy': Donald Trump Gushes Over Paulo Costa in Viral UFC Meeting
President Donald Trump could not stop gushing over Brazilian MMA fighter Paulo Costa when the duo met at a UFC event organized in Miami on Saturday, April 11.
Trump has been a longtime fan of the UFC. On April 11, the 79-year-old president was present at an event when he met Costa, 34. A video of them engaging in a cage-side conversation is now widely circulating on social media.
'You're Too Good-Looking to Be a Fighter'
A video clip that shows Trump speaking with Costa has been doing the rounds on social media. They shook hands, as the president told the MMA star, "You're a beautiful guy. You could be a model, you look so good. Great fight."
To this, Costa replied, "Thank you for doing what you're doing." Trump continued to praise Costa, as he added, "You're too good-looking to be a fighter. You're a great fighter. Thank you, man!"
Donald Trump interacts with Paulo Costa during a UFC event in Miami.
What Paulo Costa Said About His Interaction With Donald Trump
Costa came out on top with a knockout victory at the UFC 327 event. After his victory, he addressed the media at a press conference, where he shared some details about his exchange with Trump.
"It was so funny, thank you, Mr. Trump," he said, laughing. "I just kind of jokingly talked to him," he stated. Costa further added, "Then I just said some things that were personal, so let's just keep it a secret for now. It was just between us."
Netizens React to Donald Trump and Paulo Costa's Exchange
The video of Trump gushing over Costa at the Miami UFC event gathered traction online. Netizens were quick to react to the footage from their cage-side conversation, with many finding the president's remarks awkward.
"Trump looked paulo costa dead in the eyes and said "you're too pretty to be getting punched for a living" 😂 bro really tried to recruit him for modeling mid-interview lmao," said one user.
"Paulo Costa probably didn't know whether to laugh or start warming up for a fight after that," wrote another.
A third user chimed in, saying, "Weird right?😅 But Costa's built like a heavyweight tank, so hearing compliments about modeling instead of fighting just adds to the comedy. Classic awkward-but-entertaining moment that only Trump interviews can produce."
An X user comments on the interaction between Donald Trump and Paulo Costa.
White House South Lawn to Host UFC Boxing Match?
Trump has been an UFC enthusiast for a long time, so much so that he is planning to turn the White House South Lawn into a venue for a UFC boxing match for his upcoming 80th birthday on June 14, 2026.
The president confirmed the plan to reporters at the Kennedy Center Honors gala last December. "They're building an arena, the great Dana White is building an arena," he said, according to The Daily Beast.
Trump added that the White House will organize large-scale fights on the South Lawn. "The biggest fights they've ever had," Trump said, adding, "Every one's a championship fight. And every one's a legendary type of fight."
Other parts of the birthday UFC celebration will feature dancing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a laser and fireworks display, and autograph sessions at the National Mall.