UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland stated that the atmosphere at former President Donald Trump's rallies evokes a sense of how Adolf Hitler's rise to power might have occurred. Strickland made the comparison on the "Shawn Ryan Show," suggesting that the rallies create an environment where the "sanity of everybody" is called into question.
"So like when you’re at a Trump rally, you’re like, ‘Oh, I could definitely see how Hitler happened,’" Strickland said on the podcast. "I’m not fucking joking to you, dude."
Strickland, who has faced criticism for past controversial remarks, also recalled an incident at a Trump rally where he observed Vivek Ramaswamy reacting to Trump's threats of jailing flag burners. Strickland described the crowd's fervent response as indicative of extreme devotion, stating, "If Trump said go grab a gun and go do anything, they would fucking do it."
Ryan, the podcast host, responded to Strickland's observations by calling the phenomenon a "cult."
This is not the first instance of comparisons being drawn between Trump and historical authoritarian figures. In 2016, JD Vance, now the Vice President, reportedly told a Yale Law School roommate that Trump could become "America's Hitler." Earlier, Trump himself had reposted content that listed historical figures known for "brutal conquest and the fear that they instilled," including Hitler, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon.
Strickland also voiced his belief that Trump has betrayed his supporters. "It’s like the people that have voted... that rallied around you, you actively just fucking spit in their fucking face for what, dude?" he questioned.
The UFC fighter claimed he was not invited to the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House earlier in the month due to his criticisms of the former president. Strickland suggested his exclusion from the event was a consequence of his critical stance toward Trump's leadership.