Donald Trump purchased TKO stock in March ahead of June UFC event
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased between $15,000 – $50,000 in TKO stock in March, months ahead of the high-profile UFC event outside the White House on his birthday.
First noted by the Huffington Post, Trump bought the stock on March 25 according to a May 12 disclosure filing.
The June 14 event, dubbed UFC Freedom 250, will be held on the South lawn of the White House with an estimated 4000 in attendance (2900 White House/TKO guests and 1100 military members and their families), according to TKO COO Mark Shapiro on a recent investors call. WWE talent will take part in a fan fest prior to the show.
Given the relationship between Trump and TKO, namely his longtime friendships with UFC president Dana White and former WWE head Vince McMahon, the transaction has raised some eyebrows as has been the case with many of his financial transactions during his second term.
The outlet, and others, have noted his proclivity toward “purchasing stocks in companies ahead of actions by his own administration favorable to those same companies” while also stating that White House officials claim his financial advisors handle all decisions and not him.
Trump’s cabinet includes longtime friend and former WWE executive Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education and Robert F. Kennedy as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, notable as his niece is now under a WWE contract. Current WWE CCO Paul Levesque is a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.