President Donald Trump received a notable endorsement from another major figure in the professional wrestling world last week, as Roman Reigns expressed his support for the former president in an interview with Vanity Fair. Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, made his comments ahead of WrestleMania, the WWE’s flagship event widely regarded as the Super Bowl of professional wrestling.
During the April 17th interview, Reigns, 39, stated his support for Trump, emphasizing the former president’s broad experience across multiple industries. Reigns cited Trump’s background in entertainment, business, and politics as evidence that he has the necessary qualifications to serve again as president.
“I support our president,” Reigns said. “Trump is one of those guys where he’s got a vast history and a huge background.” He further commented on the type of leadership he hoped to see for the future of the United States, stating, “At this point, I’m supporting a bright future for our country. Positive and competent leadership. For us to be what we’re supposed to be—to be a world leader and carry that respect and do what a world power like us should be doing.”
Although supportive, Reigns offered some critical observations about Trump’s political style, particularly Trump’s penchant for public confrontations with opponents. Reigns remarked, “It’s like he needs that adversary. He needs that opposition to bounce off of. He needs that competitive motivation or something.”
Roman Reigns says that he supports Donald Trump. Is a registered Democrat, but considers himself a centrist:
“One person was giving us information. One person was answering questions, so it wasn’t that hard.” [When asked if that means that he backed Trump, Reigns pauses for a… pic.twitter.com/9HT4VCkFW2
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 17, 2025
Reigns also drew parallels between professional wrestling and the current state of politics. “To be honest,” he said, “the world seems to be more like wrestling than any other form of entertainment.”
Following the publication of the interview, there was a significant reaction online, particularly among liberal segments of the wrestling fan base. Some users criticized Reigns’ endorsement of Trump, while others condemned the intensity of the backlash. One online commenter noted the extreme negativity directed toward Reigns, referencing posts that wished ill health upon the wrestler, who has battled chronic myeloid leukemia since 2007 and experienced a recurrence in 2018.
A saga in 2 minutes about the IWC meltdown over Roman Reigns supporting President Trump
Peak mental illness you won’t see in any other fandom
Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/4JL7S8YyQq
— Lisa Greene (@aerith_greene) April 18, 2025
One fan posted a message urging others to criticize Reigns’ political stance without resorting to personal attacks regarding his health. “Be mad at Roman. Be upset with Roman. Hold him accountable, but wishing his cancer to come back and kill him because you are mad at him is just downright vindictive and cruel,” the user wrote.
Elsewhere in the Vanity Fair article, Reigns discussed the broader political landscape, particularly in relation to Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic campaign following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside. Reigns indicated that Trump’s communication efforts distinguished him from Democratic candidates. “One person was giving us information. One person was answering questions, so it wasn’t that hard,” Reigns said when asked about his decision to support Trump over Harris.
Roman Reigns’ comments add him to a list of professional wrestlers who have voiced support for Trump, contributing to the ongoing intersection of sports entertainment and American politics. Trump himself has a longstanding association with the world of professional wrestling, having appeared at WWE events and being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
There have been no official statements from WWE regarding Reigns’ remarks.
