Donald Trump is facing backlash after revealing he briefly stepped away from a high-level meeting involving Russian officials to weigh in on a documentary about late wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.
The unexpected interruption, which reportedly took place inside the Oval Office, has raised eyebrows online, with many questioning the timing and priorities behind the move.
Trump, who shared a long-standing friendship with Hogan before his death from a heart attack last July, had previously paid tribute to the wrestling legend, calling him a figure who would be “greatly missed.”
Donald Trump Halts Russia Meeting To Discuss Hulk Hogan Doc
Trump has revealed he stepped away from a high-level meeting involving Russia to film his segment for a documentary about Hulk Hogan.
In a now-viral clip from the Netflix documentary “Hulk Hogan: Real American,” released April 22, Trump casually tells the interviewer he had just come from what he described as a “big Russian meeting” before sitting down for the interview.
The billionaire politician goes on to praise Hogan as a “good guy” and a “nice guy,” adding that he agreed to appear in the documentary because the wrestling legend personally asked him to.
The segment then cuts to archival footage from a 1988 edition of WrestleMania, held at Trump Plaza, where Trump was in attendance.
Fans Question The President’s Priorities
On social media, several users are questioning the reasoning behind Trump’s decision and taking to various platforms to voice their frustration.
“This guy has his priorities straight, right?” one Reddit user wrote, while another added, “Absolutely nothing of substance. From an editorial standpoint, why even include that drivel? Frump is a master of saying a bunch of words that don’t mean jack.”
A third user shifted focus to Netflix, writing, “It’s interesting to me that Netflix is desperately trying to appease the right-wing audience these days. I do wonder when Trump’s long gone, whether this leaning into that audience will bite a lot of companies in the -ss.”
Donald Trump Shared A Close Bond With Hulk Hogan
The connection between Trump and Hogan was well-documented long before the series.
In 2024, the wrestler made headlines as a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention, where he ripped off his shirt on stage to reveal a Trump-Vance campaign tank top.
In the documentary interview, Hogan also plays a voicemail from Trump, in which the president thanks him for the endorsement and credits the moment with delivering massive ratings.
“Nobody could do what you did, and entertain. We love having you on our side,” Trump says in the message, per The Independent. “You’re a winner, man. You’re a champ and a winner… Everyone was really impressed.”
Trump Turns Focus To Himself In Hogan Doc
Elsewhere in the documentary, Hogan explains why he chose to publicly back Trump, saying he no longer wanted to stay silent following the assassination attempt during the election cycle.
“In 2016, I was one of the cowards who voted for Trump but wouldn’t wear the red hat,” Hogan says, per The Daily Beast. “In 2020, I voted for Trump, and was still a coward.”
He adds that he had initially planned to keep a low profile again, but changed course after the attack. “I was going to vote for him the next time and keep a low profile, but they tried to kill Trump,” Hogan explains.
Trump, however, doesn’t fully mirror that praise. Reflecting on their public personas, he describes both himself and Hogan as “controversial figures,” before adding that he believes he has become “less controversial over the years.”
The Director Spoke On How Trump Appeared
Director Bryan Storkel has shed light on how Trump ended up appearing in the documentary, revealing that the interview was arranged with help from Hogan himself.
Speaking to TMZ, Storkel explained that he and Hogan had initially planned to visit the White House together for the interview. However, the wrestling icon was forced to miss out after experiencing a health scare that required surgery.
“There’s a nice little surprise interview with Donald Trump, which [Hulk] helped me set up. We went to the White House and interviewed Trump, and he talked all about Hulk Hogan,” Storkel said.