Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Chuck Norris following the actor’s death at age 86, describing him as a “tough cookie” and a loyal supporter.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I thought he was a great guy. He was a really good tough cookie. You didn’t want to fight him.” He also called Norris “a great supporter” and said the news of his passing was “too bad.”
Trump and Norris shared a long-standing friendship. Norris publicly endorsed Trump during his first presidential campaign in 2016, and the two were believed to have first met in 1991 at WrestleMania VII in Los Angeles.
Beyond his Hollywood career, Norris was active in politics for many years. A longtime Republican, he supported several candidates over the years, including Mike Huckabee in the 2008 primary. He also worked with former President George H.W. Bush on a nonprofit promoting martial arts programs for children.
Norris, best known for Walker, Texas Ranger, died Thursday in what his family described as a sudden passing.
In addition to his film and television legacy, Norris became a viral internet sensation through the popular “Chuck Norris Facts,” which celebrated his larger-than-life persona.