This was surprising to see.
UFC fighter Sean Strickland has voiced his frustration with President Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding the Gaza Strip. Strickland, a supporter of Trump, has been outspoken about his concerns over the former president’s intentions to intervene in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Since last week, Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to take control of the Gaza Strip, an area that has been severely affected by the war. The former president even proposed transforming it into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” while also asserting that displaced Palestinians should not be allowed to return.
On Monday, Strickland shared his thoughts on social media, accusing Trump of straying from his original “America First” stance. Strickland, who has long backed Trump’s policies, expressed disappointment in the direction the former president was taking. In a tweet, Strickland said, “If Donald Trump keeps this up, I will start waving my own Palestinian flag. U.S. cities are sh*tholes, and you want to spend billions of dollars on this mess. Have we all made a mistake?! This is not America first.”
His frustration only intensified when Trump doubled down on his position during a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan. Strickland, still baffled by the idea of U.S. involvement in Gaza, tweeted again: “U.S. jobs, deportation, lowering the taxes… take over, occupy, fix Gaza… wait, wait, wait, what? Lol.” The tone of Strickland’s posts made it clear that he was growing disillusioned with what he perceived as a departure from the priorities that first made Trump popular with the American people.
Strickland’s comments reflect a wider concern among some Republicans who fear that Trump’s focus on foreign conflicts could undermine the national interests he once championed, especially when domestic issues like border security, economic growth, and job creation still remain a top priority for many conservative voters. For Strickland and others who share his views, Trump’s foreign policy approach may be a deal-breaker if it moves away from putting America first.