Who is Craig Long? MAGA influencer arrested in human trafficking sting posed with Donald Trump at UFC event

Craig Long is a social media personality reportedly associated with pro-Trump, 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) content who recently came under scrutiny after his arrest in connection with a human trafficking sting. Long was arrested in a massive prostitution and human trafficking sting operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which netted over 200 arrests. Long drew wider attention after photos surfaced of him posing with Donald Trump at a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in Miami. The image quickly circulated online, fueling public interest and raising questions about his background and connections.

Long, 41, a Tampa-based fitness entrepreneur who describes himself as a MAGA influencer, was among 266 individuals arrested in Polk County during a large-scale sting targeting prostitution, human trafficking, and child predators. According to Sheriff Grady Judd, 247 of those arrests were linked to trafficking cases.



Authorities revealed the arrest at a press conference that rapidly gained widespread attention. The situation drew even more focus when officials pointed to Long’s significant social media presence, referenced his prior criminal history, and noted his connections to prominent political figures.

During the briefing, Sheriff Judd specifically named Long while detailing the arrests connected to the operation.

"Then there’s Craig Long we arrested. He’s 41. Some of you may recognize him. He’s an influencer. He also owns Craig Long Fitness in Tampa. He was seeking the services of a prostitute."

"Did I tell you that he’s married? That he’s got 125k followers on Instagram? 568k followers on TikTok?" Judd said.

Judd further revealed that Long had previously turned his life around following earlier legal issues.

"He was a previous felon who straightened up really what we want to see in life," the officer said.

"Now he’s an influencer. You know, he moves in big circles, even with the president."

Officials have yet to disclose the complete scope of the operation, but confirmed it resulted in numerous arrests as part of a crackdown on prostitution and suspected human trafficking activities.