Mike Tyson has bragged about his political friendship since meeting Donald Trump in the 1980s, when both men gave women the same bitter taste.
Trump hosted some of the heavyweight’s biggest fights at his Atlantic City casinos. He later advised the boxer during a bitter dispute over his management contract.
Their bond has endured through controversy, including Trump’s defense of Tyson after his 1992 rape conviction. Now the former champion stands alongside Trump and sings his praises.
Tyson joined Trump on his trip from Washington, D.C., to Syracuse, New York, to support Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate in New York’s gubernatorial election.
He has never been one to bite his tongue, often leaving people stunned by his unfiltered remarks. Some blame years of taking punches to the head.
But his latest move has people wondering how he went from a feared heavyweight to a political prop.
His onstage praise sparked a frenzy when he declared, “I’m just happy to be up here with my president … President Trump.”
There’s no way in the world I would ever be here if there wasn’t a president like Donald Trump,” Tyson told the crowd at the Oncenter Convention Center.
While onstage, Trump admitted he would never dare fight Tyson. He then recalled how the boxer’s team once had to restrain him to stop him from killing his opponents.
“He’d stand in the corner and his people would all be holding him back. He wanted to kill whoever it was,” Trump said. “He was a very dangerous person actually, and he was one of the greatest fighters in history.”
The president joked that Tyson would serve as Blakeman’s bodyguard after their White House appearance.
The media seemed enthused by Trump’s brag, calling the sports icon “Iron Mike Tyson, while adding, “There’s nobody like him.”
He gushed as he introduced him to the press, saying, “He was a real champ. People were afraid to fight him. He was something special.”
Their appearance sparked online backlash over Tyson’s closeness to Trump and the allegations surrounding both men.
“How much did they pay you, Tyson?” asked one social media user.
Two others said, “Damn, Mike Tyson is going out sad,” and “Tyson been told us that he’ll do anything for the check [at this point.]”
Others blamed his career, saying “Boxing has left him brain damaged too” from “too many head blows.”
Following their visit, Trump shared two reposts from X on Truth Social.
“Very happy for Mike. He has had a rough life, not to say that he is innocent of everything, but I’m happy for him,” read the first message.
Another read: “Liberals loved Mike Tyson. he walked onto air force one. Then the same crowd called it a prop. they do not hate the man. They hate the picture, a black legend next to trump breaks the script.”
Tyson’s White House appearance highlighted his growing alignment with Trump, as both men have faced public scrutiny, high-profile feuds, and accusations that have kept them in the headlines.
Their shared taste for controversy made the boxer’s visit more than a photo opportunity, especially as Trump joked about Tyson’s reputation.
Mike Tyson: "There’s no way I would be here if it wasn’t for a president like Donald Trump" https://t.co/aM781MojpA
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2026
