Donald Trump has made some very controversial statements again recently, with the US President allegedly calling Haiti, El Salvador and African nations “s—thole countries.”
UFC heavyweight title contender Francis Ngannou has spoken out about this, with the Cameroonian-born fighter calling the US President a ‘shame’ for the country.
“I’m an immigrant. I was, I am, and I will be an immigrant. This year, next year, ten years after, I will still be an immigrant,” Ngannou told MMA Fighting. “I know that particular situation and how difficult it is.
“I know why they leave. They don’t leave their country because they want to, or love other country more than their country. They leave their country because they don’t have a choice.”
“Yes, (I am bothered by it). All those people (Trump) was talking about, is people like us,” he said. “It’s difficult to accept and hear things like that. For myself, (I know) what the goal for me when I leave my country, and to see someone who just want to break that dream and that hope from people who are following — this guy is a shame for America.
“America was built for immigration. America is the country that poor countries in the world (look up to as) a model. They don’t expect America to give them something, but just to look at them like an example to build their own country and get a better situation. This country has been doing well with a great president like the last one Barack Obama, or Martin Luther King and people like him, who had to work for that. Today we have some guy like Donald trump who come out and bring all that down. So it’s all a shame.”
Ngannou emigrated to France in search of a better opportunity, and it is where he pursued his dreams of being a professional fighter. Just a couple of years later, the heavyweight could realize his dreams as he competes for the UFC title this weekend.
Interestingly enough, the UFC president has also expressed completely contrasting views about Donald Trump as he’s promoting Ngannou’s upcoming bout. Dana White spoke to the Boston Herald to sing him praises and to call him a “stand-up” human being.
“Since Trump has been the president of the United States this guy has called me 15, 20 times,” White said. “I’m telling you. He says some crazy things and does some crazy things. He’s one of the most stand-up human beings that I have ever dealt with in the business. Fact.”
White, who spoke at the Republican National Convention, again reiterated that he’s “a Trump guy” and has a “very strong relationship” with the President. He says he regularly speaks to him, with Trump even inviting him to the White House on numerous occasions.
As the tradition of having NBA champions visit the White House has seemingly fizzled, White says Trump wanted to start a new one.
“He called me to see if I wanted to start bringing UFC champions to the White House. You know, how they do when somebody wins the Super Bowl and stuff like that,” White said. “I’m going to go before the end of his term. I’m going to go to the White House to have dinner with him.”
White says he generally lets fighters voice out their opinions for or against Trump, but also mentioned the way many have acted since the election is “disgusting” to him.
“I don’t get into beefs with people because of their political beliefs,” White said about his UFC fighters speaking out. “Democrat, or the craziest liberal ever, whatever your deal is, that’s your personal point.”
“That’s one of the things that disgusted me during this election. If you don’t like the way this turned out, you should have voted. You lost — you ride out your four years and then you vote again when the elections come up,” White said. “The way that people have acted and continue to act during this election is disgusting. That part of it really bothers me. At the end of the day, you can have your political beliefs.”
This recent issue of course really had nothing to do with people upset at “winning” or “losing” an election. When asked about Ngannou specifically having a more valid reason to be upset, White had a slight change of tune.
“I do not agree with a lot of things that President Trump says, and a lot of things he does, but that’s absolutely normal when you vote for a President,” he says. “I do not agree with everything he says, I don’t agree with the things he says with other countries.
About the author
