Mick Foley Fires Back at Trump Over 'Vile' Tweet

Mick Foley’s Unflinching Take on Donald Trump: A Call to WWE’s Political Consciousness
In a headline‑shattering moment that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, WWE Hall‑of‑Famer and former commentator Mick Foley took to social media and the wrestling press to deliver a scathing rebuke of former President Donald Trump. The catalyst was a “vile” tweet posted by Trump earlier this week, in which the former leader made a seemingly incendiary reference to the Black Lives Matter movement and to the “political climate” in the United States. Foley’s response, which appeared on both Ewrestlingnews.com and the WWE’s own official channels, was not merely a retort to a single tweet but an indictment of anyone within the WWE ecosystem who still “supports” Trump. The article summarises Foley’s remarks, the broader WWE response, and the complex web of politics and entertainment that has long run through the industry.
The Spark: Trump’s “Vile” Tweet
On January 26, 2024, Trump posted a cryptic message on his personal Twitter account that read, in part: “The Black Lives Matter movement is no longer a threat. We need to restore American values.” The tweet, which was widely interpreted as a harbinger of a broader attack on the protest movement, was quickly labeled “disgusting” by a host of commentators, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press. The language struck many as a direct dismissal of an entire social justice movement, and it prompted a flurry of responses across all social platforms.
Mick Foley, who has built his post‑wrestling brand around outspoken advocacy for civil rights and animal welfare, was among the first to call out the tweet publicly. In his own tweet—linked directly from the Ewrestlingnews.com article—Foley wrote:
“Trump’s latest message? A vile jab at a movement that’s been fighting for equity for decades. The WWE’s ‘family’ is being asked to either step up or stay silent. Who still supports this? I do not.”
The WWE’s official stance on the tweet, as recorded in a brief statement on its website, clarified that the company “does not endorse any political views” and that it would not engage in any “political debate.” Yet, the statement also acknowledged that many WWE employees and fans hold divergent opinions, and that the organization “values the individual beliefs of its community.”
Mick Foley’s Broader Commentary
The article goes beyond a single retort, delving into Foley’s broader frustration with the WWE’s perceived ambivalence toward social justice. Foley has long been vocal about the industry’s historical treatment of minority wrestlers and the lack of meaningful representation. In the Ewrestlingnews piece, he expands on his view that “the WWE’s identity as a ‘family’ has been twisted by those who are comfortable with a political figure who denies systemic injustice.”
Foley cites several key points:
Historical Inequality: He references the way the WWE has historically sidelined Black and Latino wrestlers, with the 1990s being an era in which “minority talent was rarely positioned as headliners.” He notes that the movement to bring diversity to the ring began in earnest with wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair, but that it has “never been a priority for the board.”
The Role of Sponsorship: Foley points out that the WWE has long been a lucrative platform for politically‑aligned brands. “We are a global product; we get paid to entertain. But that doesn’t mean we can ignore the reality of political influence. We are not a ‘brand’ that can ignore our own fans’ concerns.” He references WWE’s 2020 corporate social responsibility report, which explicitly states the organization’s commitment to “inclusivity” while acknowledging that the company remains a “business that needs to remain neutral.”
The “Family” Myth: Foley argues that the WWE’s self‑description as a family is “a convenient narrative that allows us to ignore the real work that needs to be done.” He adds that he is “not just a wrestler, but a human being who sees the inequities in the world.”
Call to Action: “Who still supports this?” Foley asks. “If you are part of the WWE community, either stand with us or step away. This isn’t just about a tweet; it’s about the values we embody.”
The article notes that Foley’s comments were met with both support and backlash. Several WWE wrestlers—such as John Cena and Kurt Angle—have publicly expressed support for Trump in the past, citing his stance on issues such as immigration and gun rights. Others—Roman Reigns, Shawn Michaels, and Chris Jericho—have voiced their discomfort with Trump’s rhetoric, mirroring Foley’s sentiment.
The Broader Wrestling Community’s Response
The article follows up by exploring how different factions within WWE reacted. Some wrestlers publicly supported Foley’s condemnation, posting solidarity statements on Twitter and Instagram. For example, Reggie ‘The Big Cat’ Jones posted a graphic of a clenched fist over the words “Trump,” while Sasha Banks tweeted: “I don’t want to be part of a culture that denies human dignity. Thanks, Mick.”
Conversely, a number of wrestlers and executives remained silent, either due to fear of backlash or because they see Trump as a neutral figure. Paul Heyman, a longtime WWE creative mind, was quoted in a follow‑up interview saying, “We’re a business. We do not have time to comment on the political views of any one individual.” However, the article notes that Heyman’s public statements have, in the past, subtly aligned with Trump’s policies. In a 2019 interview, Heyman said, “We’re not going to do anything that puts us in the cross‑hairs of the government.”
The article also references a “behind‑the‑scenes” look into WWE’s corporate structure, which has revealed that the company’s board of directors includes individuals with explicit political affiliations. While the WWE has historically avoided making explicit public statements on national politics, the current climate is forcing the company to confront how its corporate practices may align or misalign with the public’s perception of social justice.
What It Means for WWE’s Future
In summarizing Foley’s take, the article emphasizes that the issue goes beyond a single tweet. The WWE, as a brand that claims to unite fans across cultural divides, must navigate the political landscape carefully. Foley’s insistence that “the WWE’s ‘family’ has been asked to either step up or stay silent” is a call for the industry to either become a vocal advocate for civil liberties or to remain mute and risk alienating fans.
The article concludes by noting that WWE has recently announced a new partnership with the “United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime” (UNODC) in an effort to combat drug abuse and promote positive values in the wrestling community. This new initiative may signal the company’s attempt to “balance its business interests with its societal responsibilities.”
In Short
- Mick Foley publicly criticized Trump’s latest tweet as hateful, calling out WWE for its silence.
- Trump’s tweet dismissed the Black Lives Matter movement and was widely condemned as a harbinger of further political division.
- Foley’s remarks spotlighted historical inequities within WWE, the company’s role as a neutral brand, and the need for the wrestling community to stand for social justice.
- The WWE community remains divided; some wrestlers support Foley’s stance, while others remain silent or have previously expressed alignment with Trump.
- Future implications: WWE’s public relations, partnerships, and corporate responsibility initiatives will likely be influenced by the ongoing debate over political neutrality versus activism.
The article, in its 550‑plus‑word run, delivers a clear portrait of a wrestling icon taking a firm stand in a highly polarized political climate—forcing the WWE, and its audience, to question who truly represents the “family” it claims to be.
Read the Full Wrestling News Article at:
[ https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/wwe/mick-foley-slams-donald-trump-questions-those-in-wwe-who-still-support-him-after-vile-tweet ]