Washington DC [US], July 4: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to host a UFC fight on the White House grounds as part of the nationwide celebrations marking America’s 250th year of independence next year, according to CNN.
The announcement was made during the “America 250” kickoff event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on the eve of the nation’s 249th Independence Day. “Every one of our national park battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of America 250… We’re going to have a UFC fight – think of this – on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president is “dead serious” about the idea. A UFC spokesperson also told CNN that discussions with the White House are ongoing, although further details are yet to be finalized.
Trump has had a longstanding relationship with the UFC and its CEO, Dana White, dating back to 2001 when Trump hosted a UFC event at his Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. White later became a major supporter of Trump, notably introducing him at the Republican National Convention.
Trump has frequently attended UFC events in recent years. In June, he appeared at a match in Newark, New Jersey. In April, he became the first sitting president to attend a UFC fight in Miami, where he joined fighters during the traditional walkout. After winning the 2024 election, Trump was honoured at a UFC event in New York with a video tribute and a standing ovation.
As part of the broader “America 250” celebrations, Trump also announced a series of professional and amateur sporting events, including the “Patriot Games”—a televised high school athletic competition led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy