Trump endorses controversial influencer — who isn't running for office

Boxer and vlogger Jake Paul got an endorsement from President Donald Trump — but the influencer isn't actually running for office, according to reports Thursday.

Trump called Paul to the stage during his rally Wednesday night in Hebron, Kentucky and told the crowd he expected him to run for office "in the not-too-distant future," The New York Times reported. "That's what we want," Trump added, pointing towards Paul.

"He’s a great guy," Trump said. "He’s a courageous guy and a talented guy. He’s a hell of a fighter, too."

It's unclear what potential elected position Paul would run for.

“What President Trump’s taught me is courage. You never back down from a fight," Paul said during the event. He also sat down for an interview with Trump during the president's visit.

Paul has been known as a troublemaker over his pranks and stunts. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, he called COVID-19 a "hoax."

In 2021, he was accused of sexual assault by influencer Justine Paradise. Paul released a statement responding to the allegations and called them "100% false."