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In a new interview, Mick Foley spoke about what he feels President Donald Trump learned from his time spent around the wrestling world, as well as one key aspect of wrestling the Republican didn’t pick up.
The WWE icon is featured in a new episode of CNN’s Devoted. A clip shared on social media by the show’s host, Donie O’Sullivan, featured Foley discussing his thoughts on Trump and his recent separation from WWE.
“What do you think Trump learned from WWE?” O’Sullivan asked Foley.
“I think he learned the importance of repeating a single thought until it becomes accepted fact,” The Hardcore Legend responded.
“You’re a WWE Hall of Famer,” O’Sullivan noted in the clip, available on X (Twitter) and Meta platforms. “You got that in common with President Trump.”
The CNN video then details how Trump interacted with WWE beginning in the 1980s through the 2000s.
The president played host to two early WrestleManias at one of his since-closed casino-hotels. Years later, he took part in an angle with then-WWE boss Vince McMahon that culminated in the “Battle of the Billionaires” match at WrestleMania 23, which saw Bobby Lashley (representing Trump) defeat Umaga (wrestling on behalf of McMahon).
Clips of Vince having his head shaved after the match and special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin delivering a Stunner on Trump later went viral.
O’Sullivan’s video post noted that Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife and a former WWE executive, is now Trump’s education secretary.
“There was a photo in the Oval Office with the president and the McMahons, and you’re like, wow, four people in that photo have received a Stone Cold Stunner,” Foley said to Donie. “You know, it’s a little close.”
Due to WWE’s ties with the current administration, Foley parted ways with the company. The move followed a video Foley posted on Instagram, imploring the president to “stop the madness” with what he deemed to be overly aggressive actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
However, the final straw for Foley was insulting comments Trump made about following the deaths of actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
“I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy,” Foley said in a statement in December. “Last night, I informed WWE talent relations that I would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office.”
He added in the statement; “Additionally, I will not be signing a new Legends deal when my current one expires in June. I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, “I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.”
Speaking about these issues to O’Sullivan brought Foley around to what he feels Trump did not learn from his time around the wrestling world.
He told O’Sullivan: “I think if you take the tact that you never make a mistake, and therefore you never need to apologize, you’re lying to yourself. And more importantly, you’re lying to the American people.”
“And that sounds a bit like wrestling,” O’Sullivan said. “In that, you know, if you’re playing a character, if you’re playing the bad guy, you never apologize.”
“Well, eventually we do,” Foley replied. “Eventually, there’s…”
“There’s an arc,” O’Sullivan interjected.
“There is forgiveness,” Foley said.
“Trump hasn’t gotten there,” O’Sullivan said.
“No, he’s not there yet,” Foley continued. “He’s not a fully evolved wrestling character.”
What do you think about Foley’s thoughts on Trump? Sounds off in the comments to let us know.
