Mick Foley Severs Ties With WWE Over Company's Relationship With President Trump
Stamford, Tuesday, 16 December 2025.
Citing President Trump’s comments on Rob Reiner as the final straw, Mick Foley refuses to represent WWE or renew his contract while the current administration remains in power.
A Legend Departs: Politics and Professional Ties
In a significant development for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings (TKO), Hall of Famer Mick Foley has publicly announced his refusal to continue working with the organization due to its ties with the current U.S. administration. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Foley stated that he informed WWE talent relations of his decision to cease all appearances immediately and confirmed he will not renew his Legends contract when it expires in June [2]. Foley explicitly cited the company’s continued relationship with President Donald Trump as the primary driver for his departure, noting that he can no longer represent a corporation that “coddles” the President [2].
The Catalyst: Public Rhetoric and Personal Values
While Foley expressed long-standing concerns regarding the administration’s immigration policies, he identified President Trump’s recent comments following the death of director Rob Reiner as the “final straw” [2]. On December 14, 2025, President Trump posted on Truth Social attributing Reiner’s passing to “Trump Derangement Syndrome” [3][4]. The remarks drew sharp criticism from various public figures, including musician Jack White, whose condemnation of the President was reposted by Foley prior to his resignation announcement [3][4]. In his statement, Foley questioned how his colleagues could stand by the President in light of such comments, signaling a rupture between his personal values and the company’s corporate direction [3].
Corporate Alignment and Internal Division
Foley’s exit highlights the increasing friction between talent management and WWE’s corporate positioning within the political landscape. The organization has maintained visible ties with the White House throughout 2025; Paul “Triple H” Levesque visited the White House in July to sign an executive order expanding the council on sports, fitness, and nutrition, while Stephanie McMahon participated in an executive order initiative focused on AI and childhood cancer treatments in September [4]. These high-level interactions underscore the close proximity between TKO leadership and the administration, a dynamic that Foley explicitly rejected in his departure statement [2].