Nate Bargatze Faces Backlash from Left Over Photos
Nate Bargatze, one of the country’s most popular clean comedians, is being attacked after attending a White House UFC event and posing for photos with members of the Trump administration.
The criticism on the left grew this week after comedian and former CNN host W. Kamau Bell used a Substack essay to accuse Bargatze and other public figures of associating with what Bell called “fascists.” What started as a celebrity sighting at a fight quickly became another test for entertainers who try to stay out of politics but still get pulled into it.
Bargatze attended UFC Freedom 250, held June 14 on the White House South Lawn. The event coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday and was tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Reuters reported the event drew an average of 7 million U.S. viewers on Paramount+, making it the most-watched event in the platform’s history.
The media is trying to bait family comedian Nate Bargatze into apologizing for attending the UFC fight at the White Househttps://t.co/jtwqGTDZeO
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) June 24, 2026
Photos later circulated showing Bargatze with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines. Bargatze was among a large guest list that included politicians, athletes, entertainers and business leaders.
Bell, writing in a post titled “It Is So Easy To Not Do This,” singled out Bargatze, Alexis Ohanian and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. “Don’t be in a photo with fascists,” Bell wrote, according to Variety and The Daily Beast. Bell argued that public figures should not act surprised when appearing at a Trump White House event brings public criticism.
A representative for Bargatze has said the Tennessee comedian is not political and attended because he is a longtime UFC fan. The representative also said Bargatze does not typically turn down photo requests and has fans across the political spectrum.
Bargatze has built his career on family-friendly, largely politics-free comedy. That is unusual in an industry where many performers use the stage to make political points. His profile has risen quickly in recent years through arena tours, streaming specials and his first major film role in “The Breadwinner.”
The backlash comes as progressive pressure has already complicated parts of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. CBS News reported that a majority of artists first announced for the Great American State Fair dropped out shortly after the lineup was released. Several performers said they had been told the event would be nonpartisan and later became concerned about its connection to Trump.
Young MC said he would not perform because “the artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.” The Commodores said the group chose not to “publicly affiliate with any single political party.” Country singer Martina McBride said she had been assured the event would celebrate all 50 states in a nonpartisan way, but later said that description was misleading.
To conservatives, the Bargatze episode had a familiar feel. A celebrity goes to an event. A photo turns up online. Then the questions start. Why were you there? Who were you with? Are you willing to explain yourself?
Critics on the left argue that attendance at Trump’s White House carries political meaning, whether Bargatze intended it or not. Conservative commentators say that is exactly the problem, because it puts performers on notice that even a photo can become a career headache.
Not everyone accepted the premise.
On his podcast, Joe Rogan dismissed the idea that attending the fight meant endorsing Trump’s policies. “It’s a fight at the White House,” Rogan said, according to The Daily Beast. He added that the event did not mean attendees supported “foreign policy.”
Meghan McCain also pushed back on the outrage over Bargatze’s politics, writing on X, “Respectfully, who is shocked Nate Bargatze is conservative.”
Daily Wire writer Megan Basham criticized Variety’s decision to elevate Bell’s essay, writing on X that the outlet had built a story around “some dude” complaining about Bargatze. “That’s how mad they are that Nate Bargatze became famous without their help,” she wrote.
OutKick founder Clay Travis was more blunt, writing on X that he doubted Bargatze’s actual audience was upset. “There isn’t a single actual Nate Bargatze fan upset,” Travis wrote, responding to reports that Bargatze was being criticized for appearing at the White House event.
So far, Bargatze has not offered a detailed public response. For now, he appears to be doing what helped make him popular with a broad audience in the first place: telling jokes, avoiding lectures and letting the argument happen around him.
–Metro Voice and wire services
