logo
Derrick Lewis reveals chat with President Trump after knocking out Teixeira in 35 seconds at UFC Nashville

Derrick Lewis reveals chat with President Trump after knocking out Teixeira in 35 seconds at UFC Nashville

Time of India14-07-2025
UFC Nashville
delivered fireworks Saturday night, headlined by a blistering 35-second knockout from
Derrick Lewis
. The 40-year-old heavyweight stunned the crowd with a powerful left hook that ended the undefeated streak of rising Brazilian prospect
Tallison Teixeira
in the main event.
Lewis (29-12
MMA
, 20-10 UFC) earned his second straight stoppage victory, handing the 25-year-old Teixeira (8-1 MMA) his first professional loss.
Moments after the emphatic win, Lewis revealed that he received a phone call from US President
Donald Trump
, who congratulated him.
"I've been telling Dana [White] a couple of weeks now, I need to talk to [Donald Trump] about something," Lewis said. "It's classified [what we spoke about]."
"It's almost something about terrorists and stuff like that... We don't like the FBI right now, me and Trump."
Live Events
— ufc (@ufc)
"You know, they're trying to get that list out of us. So, I had to call, I had to tell the president, 'Hey, you know, make sure they don't have my name on that list.'"
Reflecting on his many memorable post-fight moments inside the Octagon, Lewis ranked his phone call with Trump as the most iconic of them all.
"[I'd rank this post-fight celebration] probably number one, just because the president called me."
"You know, we start talking about business, and I told him, 'Wait, wait until I get to the White House so we can really talk.' Yeah, it was pretty cool to have the president talk to me."
— ufc (@ufc)
Lewis didn't hold back in his post-fight comments, dismissing Teixeira's prior competition by saying, "I just knew he had been fighting tomato cans."
Lewis has long established himself as a fan favorite and a standout personality on the UFC roster. Known for his knockout power and unfiltered charm, Lewis continues to capture attention both in and out of the Octagon.
— ufc (@ufc)
While the exact details of his call with President Trump remain unknown, the moment only added to his growing list of unforgettable UFC highlights.
Given his charisma and star power, Lewis would undoubtedly be a crowd-pleasing presence at the highly anticipated
UFC event
scheduled to take place at the White House next year.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

$16 million settlement done, Trump claims new CBS owner will gift him $20 million in airtime
$16 million settlement done, Trump claims new CBS owner will gift him $20 million in airtime

Indian Express

time13 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

$16 million settlement done, Trump claims new CBS owner will gift him $20 million in airtime

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the future owner of CBS will provide him with $20 million worth of advertising and programming, just days after the network announced the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. This follows a $16 million legal settlement Trump reached with CBS's parent company, Paramount, over what he alleged was misleading editing of a pre-election interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. While CBS had originally dismissed the lawsuit as 'completely without merit,' the settlement comes amid Paramount's $8 billion pending sale to Skydance Media, a deal that still requires regulatory approval. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: 'Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs [public service announcements], or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars.' Neither CBS nor Skydance has publicly responded to Trump's claim. But, as per a report by Forbes, Paramount previously denied reports that the company could compensate Trump via advertising, telling The Washington Post it 'has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump.' Colbert, a vocal critic of Trump, had previously called the $16 million settlement 'a big fat bribe.' While he's expected to remain on air until May 2026, Colbert warned viewers this week that 'the gloves are off.' 'I don't know if anything, anything will repair my trust in this company,' Colbert said last week on his show. 'But, just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help.' Responding to Trump's latest claim, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on X: 'This reeks of corruption.'

Trump strikes tariff deal with Japan, auto stocks surge
Trump strikes tariff deal with Japan, auto stocks surge

Time of India

time13 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trump strikes tariff deal with Japan, auto stocks surge

US President Donald Trump struck a trade deal with Japan that lowers tariffs on auto imports and spares Tokyo from punishing new levies on other goods in exchange for a $550 billion package of US -bound investment and loans. It is the most significant of a clutch of agreements that Trump has bagged since unveiling sweeping global levies in April, though like other deals, exact details remained unclear. Japan's auto sector, which accounts for more than a quarter of its US exports, will see existing tariffs cut to 15 per cent from levies totaling 27.5 per cent previously. Duties that were due to come into effect on other Japanese goods from August 1 will also be cut to 15 per cent from 25%. The announcement sent Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index climbing almost 4 per cent to its highest in a year, led by stocks in automakers with Toyota up more than 14 per cent and Honda nearly 11%. "I just signed the largest TRADE DEAL in history with Japan," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan," he added. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who denied reports on Wednesday that he had decided to quit following a bruising election defeat, hailed the tariff agreement as "the lowest rate ever applied among countries that have a trade surplus with the US " Two-way trade between the two countries reached nearly $230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a trade surplus of nearly $70 billion. Japan is the fifth-largest US trading partner in goods, US Census Bureau data show. The US investment package includes loans and guarantees from Japanese government-affiliated institutions of up to $550 billion to enable Japanese firms "to build resilient supply chains in key sectors like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors," Ishiba said. Japan will also increase purchases of agricultural products such as US rice, a Trump administration official said. Ishiba said the share of US rice imports may increase under its existing framework but that the agreement did "not sacrifice" Japanese agriculture. Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida called the deal "very big progress" and said it reduces uncertainty over the economic outlook. Some economists had forecast the tariffs could have tipped Japan - the world's fourth-largest economy - into recession. Keidanren, Japan's biggest business lobby, welcomed the deal, saying it was a recognition of the significant contributions Japanese companies have made to the US economy and society. The exuberance in financial markets spread to shares of South Korean and European carmakers, as the Japan deal stoked optimism that they could strike similar deals. But US automakers signaled their unhappiness with the deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that cuts tariffs on Japanese auto imports while leaving tariffs on imports from their plants and suppliers in Canada and Mexico at 25%. "Any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high US content is a bad deal for US industry and US auto workers," said Matt Blunt, who heads the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents General Motors Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis . "#Mission Complete," Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa wrote on X following a meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Akazawa later said the deal does not cover Japanese exports of steel and aluminum, currently subject to a 50 per cent tariff. As part of the agreement, Japan will drop additional safety tests currently imposed on imported US cars and trucks, Akazawa added, requirements that Trump has said limit sales of American-made autos there. Some last-minute negotiations over the eye-catching investment package appear to have helped seal the deal, a photo of Akazawa's meeting with Trump posted by one of his aides showed. The photo posted on X by Trump's assistant Dan Scavino, pictured the president seated opposite Akazawa with a document titled 'Japan Invest America' in front of him. A sum of "$400B" written in large letters on the document was scored out, with "$500" hand-written above it. Japan is the largest foreign investor in the United States, according to US government data, with an investment position of $819 billion at the end of 2024. Speaking later at the White House, Trump also expressed fresh optimism that Japan would form a joint venture with Washington to support a gas pipeline in Alaska long sought by his administration. Trump aides are feverishly working to close trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline that Trump has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. By that date, countries are set to face steep new tariffs beyond those Trump has already imposed since taking office in January. Trump has announced framework agreements with Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia and paused a tit-for-tat tariff battle with China, though details are still to be worked out with all of those countries. At the White House, Trump said negotiators from the European Union would be in Washington on Wednesday.

Epstein files: Can Obama help Trump win MAGA civil war?
Epstein files: Can Obama help Trump win MAGA civil war?

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Epstein files: Can Obama help Trump win MAGA civil war?

AI image for representation. It began, as it so often does, with a rant. This time, the setting was the Oval Office, where US President Donald Trump, facing renewed questions about his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, turned the spotlight - and the blame - onto his favorite old foe: Barack Obama . 'Obama was trying to lead a coup,' Trump declared, in reference to a recently declassified report from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 'And it was with Hillary Clinton. This was treason.' That assertion, devoid of supporting evidence and instantly refuted by Obama's office as 'a weak attempt at distraction,' wasn't just a deflection from the Epstein firestorm now singeing Trump's own base. It was a high-octane play to shift the narrative, ignite familiar conspiracy theories, and, above all, remind MAGA loyalists who their true enemy is - or was. But the question now dogging the West Wing is whether the old playbook still works. For years, Trump surfed the waves of right-wing outrage he helped create. Now, those waves are threatening to pull him under. TL;DR: The Epstein saga so far Trump, under fire from MAGA over Epstein files, accused Obama of 'treason' and a coup. However, Trump's deflection tactics are losing effectiveness with his skeptical base. The Epstein scandal is dividing MAGA, with supporters demanding more disclosures. Democrats and some Republicans are using the Epstein fallout against Trump. MAGA is showing signs of revolt as Trump's grip on his base weakens. The situation underscores a new reality: Trump's old playbook of distraction may not be enough to contain the political firestorm he helped ignite. Why it matters Trump's broadsides against Obama - absent any evidence - are part of a familiar playbook: escalate, deflect, and inflame. But this time, the context is different. MAGA isn't just battling Democrats or the media. It's fracturing internally over Trump's reluctance to release more about Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose death continues to fuel conspiracies across the political spectrum. Even as Trump tries to redirect attention, a growing segment of his supporters feel betrayed. 'You cannot allege a treasonous conspiracy and then do nothing about it,' conservative commentator Matt Walsh fumed this week. 'Funny memes and sound bites aren't going to cut it anymore.' Catch up quick Trump and Epstein were longtime social acquaintances in the 1990s and early 2000s, appearing together at Mar-a-Lago and other events. While Trump has denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claims to have severed ties, photos and newly unearthed documents - including from his wedding to Marla Maples - continue to surface. The Wall Street Journal bombshell: The crisis deepened exponentially when The Wall Street Journal published revelations about a sexually suggestive 2003 birthday card allegedly sent by Trump to Epstein. The story described a hand-drawn naked woman with Trump's signature forming her pubic hair, accompanied by the message "may every day be another wonderful secret". Trump's immediate denial and subsequent $10 billion lawsuit against the Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and the reporting team represented an unprecedented escalation in presidential attacks on the press Now, as Democrats amplify these connections and MAGA demands answers, Trump's deflection campaign has grown more erratic. He reposted a deepfake video of Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and, according to Bloomberg Opinion's Nia-Malika Henderson, revived his "Obama complex" in a bid to fire up the base. 'Donald Trump's fantasy is to be the guy who takes the key to the Oval Office from Barack Obama's hand,' author Michael D'Antonio told PBS show Frontline. The big picture Trump's attempt to change the subject comes at a politically precarious moment. The department of justice recently concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that no 'client list' exists - a finding that has triggered outrage among Trump's own base, who long believed he would be the one to expose the truth. Even moves like directing attorney general Pam Bondi to unseal grand jury transcripts and announcing a justice department interview with Ghislaine Maxwell have failed to quiet MAGA fury. Trump is now facing demands for transparency from the very conspiracy-minded corners of his movement he once encouraged. 'If the executive branch won't release phase two of the Epstein files, we will,' vowed Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky), promising a congressional push if Trump stalls any longer. Summer weekends in America are good for lots of things: baseball games, cookouts, farmers' markets, sipping a bev next to a lake. Or, if you're President Donald Trump: crashing out on social media in hopes of distracting the nation from nonstop coverage of his long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. An article in Atlantic Zoom in: 'Allegations are ridiculous' The latest escalation came after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a controversial report alleging that Obama-era officials engaged in a 'treasonous conspiracy' by manipulating the 2016 intelligence assessment on Russian election interference. The report was panned by both Democrats and intelligence veterans for conflating unrelated findings and rehashing debunked theories. 'It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard... is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the president's election conspiracy theories,' said Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Obama's office, typically restrained in responding to Trump, broke precedent with a rare and forceful public statement. 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,' Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said. 'Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.' Between the lines Trump's move to revive the Russia probe and cast Obama as the 'ringleader' behind it may be more than just deflection - it's a calculated effort to reframe the Epstein controversy within the broader 'Deep State' narrative. But the Epstein conspiracy, unlike some of Trump's other hobbyhorses, cuts both ways. MAGA is not united here. Many of Trump's most devoted followers - from Liz Wheeler to Theo Von - are openly pressuring him to follow through on his 2024 promise to expose Epstein's network. For once, Trump's usual mix of blame-shifting, lawsuits, and social media bluster isn't sticking. 'Today's statement by Pam Bondi seems like a massive cope,' Laura Loomer posted. 'Why wasn't this 'interview' with Ghislaine Maxwell done on day one?' What's next Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly adjourned the House this week to avoid a floor vote on releasing more Epstein-related files, a move designed to limit political damage. But the delay only inflamed tensions. Even Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer confirmed she is in talks with the DOJ. 'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,' said David Oscar Markus - a line that raised eyebrows, even among conservatives skeptical of the DOJ's credibility. Trump insists the demands are politically motivated. 'Nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'It will always be more, more, more.' But that message is wearing thin - not just with Democrats, but with a restive base that may no longer be fully under Trump's control. The bottom line For now, Trump continues to play the greatest hits: Obama. Treason. Coup. Russia. Witch hunt. It's a playlist that carried him through impeachment, indictments, and election losses. But even reruns lose their punch when the plot doesn't advance. As Ross Douthat of the New York Times wrote, 'No one controls MAGA - not even Trump.' The Epstein genie is out of the bottle, and the usual distractions may not be enough this time. Trump once told his supporters he alone could fix things. They're starting to ask why he hasn't.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store