PoliticsTristan Thompson Reveals He's 'Very Close' With Donald Trump's Son Eric After Fawning Over the President

NBA star Tristan Thompson revealed that he's become close with Donald Trump's son Eric.
April 2 2026, Published 9:49 a.m. ET
NBA player Tristan Thompson revealed he is "very close" with Eric Trump, calling him a "big brother" and "mentor.”
Speaking on "The Katie Miller Podcast" on Wednesday, March 31, Thompson, 35, noted the friendship was unexpected but praised Eric, 41, for being welcoming and motivating him to get more involved in the political realm.
“He’s been actually great for me,” the athlete told Miller. “He’s actually been like a very big brother, mentor.”

Tristan Thompson said Eric Trump is motivating him to get into politics.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player said that President Donald Trump's son, born to his late first wife, Ivana Trump, has been inspiring him to dive into politics.
“Especially from the political government world, he’s really put his arm around me,” the star said, adding that he “helped motivate me to want to dive into this realm a little bit more. I love him for that.”
In the same interview, Tristan, a Canadian immigrant, strongly supported Donald's second-term presidency, particularly praising his immigration policies and stating, "I love what he's done so far for our country.”

The athlete was recently at the White House.
Tristan's public alignment with the Trump family has drawn significant attention, as he was recently seen at the White House discussing policies to protect college athletes and posting photos with Vice President J.D. Vance.
Despite his MAGA leanings, Tristan admitted that it wasn’t J.D. or Donald who excited him the most, though.
“I would say maybe not starstruck but [someone I was] very excited to meet would be President Obama and First Lady Michelle [Obama],” Tristan recounted. “Because, I think, my mom was there with me. It was when we won the championship.”
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Tristan Thompson visited the White House in 2016 after the Cavaliers won the national championship.
Tristan visited the White House in 2016 after the Cavaliers won the national championship.
“Funny enough, the same day we went to the White House visit was the same day President Trump actually flew to the White House for the first time,” Tristan recalled.
“When President Obama was coming to speak with us, I saw President Trump walking the back halls," he said.

Tristan Thompson raved over the president and his son.
Donad’s son has been busy raking in profits off his father’s presidency in the crypto world and leading the development of the much-ridiculed Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and Museum in downtown Miami.
The library includes a museum space for presidential aircraft, a replica of the Oval Office, and a gold statue of Donald. The site may also incorporate a hotel, making it the first presidential library to do so.
A judge recently dismissed a complaint challenging the transfer of land from Miami-Dade College to the library foundation, clearing a major hurdle for the project.

