WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura is a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975. Later, he became the Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, finding success in politics after his in-ring career had ended (similar to Glenn Jacobs, a.k.a. Kane).
Ventura, who has made appearances as a pundit and commentator on WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event in recent years, is one of President Donald Trump's most outspoken critics and recently appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
When Morgan put it to him that Trump showed his toughness by surviving a reported assassination attempt in 2024, Ventura had a different take.
"You ever hear of a blade job?" he replied, referring to wrestlers intentionally cutting themselves to bleed during a match. "Where’s his scar today? Come on, Piers, you’re going to tell me this guy’s a big hero now? Well, then he accomplished what he wanted out of you guys."
"He’s in the Hall of Fame. Let’s both get in the ring," Ventura added. "After all, he’s in the Hall of Fame, isn’t he? Even though he’s never, ever had a match. Do you think he’d have the guts to do that?"
"You know what I had to do to get in the pro wrestling Hall of Fame? At one point in my career, I wrestled 63 consecutive nights in a row. That’s how you get in the Hall of Fame," he continued, alleging that Trump "is only in the Hall of Fame because he stopped an investigation against Vince McMahon for sexual stuff."
Now, a White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, has responded to Ventura's accusations:
"On that tragic day in Butler, Pennsylvania, we tragically lost an American hero, Corey Comperatore, who selflessly laid down his life to protect those around him. President Trump will never forget Corey and his beautiful family. On that dark day, God spared President Trump’s life by a miraculous millimeter. President Trump is standing stronger than ever as he continues to ‘fight, fight, fight’ for the American people. Only a fool would believe otherwise."
Elsewhere in his conversation with Morgan, Ventura said, "I don’t necessarily intend to run again, but I’m working on something that could send me straight to Washington and go face-to-face with this guy. Plans may be in the works..."