How MAGA Is the Mayor of Flavortown?

Earlier this month, the affable TV food personality Guy Fieri caused a stir when he was seen warmly greeting Andrew and Tristan Tate, the accused sex traffickers and alt-right provocateurs, at a UFC fight in Miami. After a brief chat with the controversial siblings, the platinum-haired chef shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with President Trump ringside.

It’s not the first time Fieri has been spotted making nice with Trump. The two commingled with Mel Gibson at another UFC event back in July of 2023. Palling around with the Tates, on the other hand, who face criminal and civil investigations in three different countries for rape, assault, tax evasion, and other charges, provoked outrage even among fans and resulted in the cancellation of a New York brand event with Waterloo.

Fieri’s politics have always been something of a mystery, making it possible for both sides of the aisle to see their values reflected in his approachable on-screen persona. But insinuating himself into the manosphere, as a regular attendee of NASCAR and UFC events, makes it easy for the public to jump to conclusions. His core audience — especially white male viewers — leans right, so pandering to MAGA while obscuring his personal politics may be a calculated business decision.