2025-07-04T02:47:54Z

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The world of mixed martial arts is about to make a significant leap into the political arena, as President Trump announced plans to host a UFC event on the grounds of the White House. During a lively gathering in Iowa on Friday night, Trump expressed his enthusiasm for featuring the popular mixed martial arts promotion as part of the celebrations for America's 250th anniversary in 2026.

The announcement was further validated by a spokesperson from the UFC, who confirmed that Dana White, the CEO of the organization, is expected to share additional details about the event in the near future. "All of our national park battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250 and I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight," Trump stated, engaging the audience with his excitement. He emphasized the unique nature of the venue, saying, "Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there."

Trump elaborated that this event would be a full-fledged championship fight, drawing an audience of approximately 20,000 to 25,000 attendees. However, questions remain about where exactly on the expansive White House grounds this historic fight will occur and what kind of structure will be set up to accommodate such a large gathering. While the UFC has previously held several events at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., staging a fight at the White House could represent a new chapter in the blending of politics and sports.

President Trump has a longstanding relationship with Dana White, having been one of his vocal supporters from the very beginning. This connection has led Trump to frequently attend UFC events, including several after he took office earlier this year. The UFC itself is now part of TKO Group Holdings, which is led by industry figures Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro, and is under the control of Endeavor, the same company that owns the now-private talent agency WME.

Known for transforming UFC events into spectacles that captivate audiences, White has a track record of innovative event planning. Notably, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC established “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi—an initiative designed to enable safe competition amid global restrictions. Last year, they staged an event in the Sphere in Las Vegas, with White revealing that over $20 million was invested in producing what he described as a monumental experience. “If you take what U2 did and multiply it by a million, that’s where we are,” he remarked, indicating the level of ambition involved in such productions.

Hosting a UFC fight at the White House would not only be historic but also set a new high for event venues, creating a unique precedent that may be hard for other sporting organizations to match in the future. Additionally, White has recently joined the board of directors of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, after receiving an invitation from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a known fan of mixed martial arts.

In addition to the UFC event, Trump also unveiled plans for another major gathering as part of the America 250 celebration: a competition dubbed the “Patriot Games.” This event is set to feature youth athletes from all 50 states in a nationally televised competition. Although Trump mentioned that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be overseeing the Patriot Games, he did not provide specific details regarding the broadcast platforms that would air the competition.