Donald Trump is NOT a politician, says legendary promoter Don King as he opens up about their friendship

On Friday night, boxing legend Mike Tyson will face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the ring just ten days after Donald Trump took on Kamala Harris at the polls.

And as his former client looks set to repeat Trump’s triumph, legendary boxing promoter Don King lifted the lid on his friendship with the president-elect.

“He is a man of his word,” the 93-year-old told Mail Sport, testifying to the republican’s character.

‘In fact he has too many words sometimes. He gets in trouble,” King added with a wry laugh.

King and Trump have shared an enduring friendship for more than three decades, with the promoter even frequenting the president-elect’s Palm Beach residence, Mar-a-Lago.

In the late 1980s, King staged several Tyson fights in Atlantic City, where a then-young Trump developed his real estate business and invested in hotels and casinos in the big city.

Legendary boxing promoter Don King (R) lifted the lid on his friendship with Donald Trump (V)

Trump, King and Mike Tyson (far right) are pictured at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City

Since then, Trump’s Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City is long gone and slated for demolition in 2021, and the former businessman has traded real estate for politics.

But despite Trump returning to the White House last week for a second term as president, King insisted his old friend is not a natural-born politician.

“We started together when he was in business,” he explained. “You know, he’s not a politician. He’s learning, he’s still not a developed politician.

“But what he does is recognize the people. He recognizes others. And this is important to me because my people are my most important assets.

‘Loyalty and your word mean more to me than money. Money comes and goes, your loyalty and your word follow you forever. You have to be able to deal with what is real.’

While the 45th president has never filed for personal bankruptcy, his businesses have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on six occasions over the years.

But King argued that Trump’s comeback from bankruptcy is what earned his respect.

‘We developed a good relationship because he was selling and what really turned me on about him was that he was bankrupting a business.

The 93-year-old discussed the president-elect in an interview with Mail Sport

King (right) was Tyson’s promoter when he became the youngest ever heavyweight champion in 1986

‘Other people would jump off a bridge if they lost everything. He took it and reduced it, then bought the whole stock for 10 cents, which he would probably sell for a dollar. He bought it all back. So when he came out of bankruptcy, he made ten times more money. I thought that was just brilliant.’

King, the architect of Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle boxing fame and Tyson’s legendary career in the ring, emerged as a staunch supporter of Trump during the 78-year-old’s 2016 campaign for his first term.

He has previously attributed Trump’s stunning upset victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 to the ‘will of the people’ and some divine intervention.

Meanwhile, Tyson, who feuded with King in 1999, is back in the spotlight for his fight with YouTuber Paul Friday.

And King, who previously promoted the boxing legend, admitted he is not opposed to Tyson’s fight with Paul.

“I’m happy to see them get some money,” he told Mail Sport. ‘Mike does not need to verify or validate himself; he can just go and collect the money. They say he gets $40 million for this. I hope it’s true. Mike is in it to win it. He won’t quit. Jake Paul will join us for an evening of entertainment – and difficulty.’

‘Mike Tyson is a fighter’s fighter. He has given us some of the greatest nights in boxing history. I have always been a promoter of the people, by the people, and together we have made boxing what it is today. Good luck and God bless Mike Friday night,” he added as a final heartfelt note.