Donald Trump just confirmed a long-standingrumor that he had to break up a fight involving NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
The President sat down with Jake Paul for an interview earlier this week and discussed a wide range of topics, including the war in Iran, the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump’s life and the boxer’s political aspirations.
However, the conversation took a turn when Paul asked the Commander-in-Chief if he had ever been in a fight himself.
Trump then admitted that he had a role in a scrap involving the late basketball star back in 1998.
The rumor has been widely circulated for a while, stemming back to the 1998 All-Star Game, which Trump attended in New York.
According to Jeff Pearlman, Trump was in an elevator at the Grand Hyatt Hotel alongside legendary basketball stars Jayson Williams and Charles Oakley, when then-phenom Kobe walked in.
Donald Trump just confirmed a long-term rumor involving NBA legend Kobe Bryant
The President said that he came to the late basketball icon’s aid back in 1998
Williams, who was playing for the New Jersey Nets at the time, was allegedly upset with the way that Bryant greeted him, feeling that the younger player did not show him the respect that a veteran deserved.
In fact, it made Williams so irate that he reportedly swung at the Los Angeles Lakers star. The situation got so heated that Trump is said to have intervened to de-escalate the altercation.
However, the anecdote was never confirmed – until now. Trump declared that the story was true when Paul quizzed him about it.
‘That was a long time ago. Yeah, well I was breaking up a fight, which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight,’ Trump said.
‘But I like Kobe. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody and it worked out fine. But yeah, I broke it up – probably not a smart thing to do. Historically, it’s never good to break up fights.’
Meanwhile, Paul joined the President on stage during a rally on Wednesday and made a bold prediction about the social media star’s future.
The 29-year-old Ohio native, who has transitioned from a YouTube personality to a major force in the combat sports world, stood alongside the President as the crowd in Hebron, Kentucky roared in support.
Trump sat down with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul for an interview this week
Trump broke up a fight between Jayson Williams (left) and Kobe at the 1998 NBA All-Star Game
During the event, Trump signaled that Paul’s influence could eventually shift from the boxing ring to the halls of government in the coming years.
‘I’m going to make a prediction that you will be, in the not too distant future, running for political office,’ Trump told the fighter and the assembled supporters.
The President didn’t stop at a mere prediction, immediately offering his political backing to the ‘Problem Child’ should he decide to pursue a seat in the future.
‘And you have my complete and total endorsement,’ the President added, cementing a public alliance with one of the most polarizing and popular figures in modern media.
