President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the White House will host a UFC event in 2026 as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.
Speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Trump told supporters that the mixed martial arts promotion would stage a fight card on the White House grounds, with space to accommodate nearly 25,000 spectators.
“We’re going to have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events,” Trump said. “But the UFC fight is going to be a big deal, too.”
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump announces there is going to a UFC FIGHT on the lawn of the White House for America’s 250th Birthday
We live in the absolute BEST timeline 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZdqoghAR5B
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 4, 2025
Details on the proposed event remain unclear. Neither the UFC nor its president Dana White has officially confirmed plans for the fight night or its logistics.
Trump has maintained a long-standing relationship with White and is a frequent attendee at UFC events. He has been seen at several high-profile cards, including UFC 302, 309 and most recently UFC 314 in Miami, where he appeared on the broadcast sitting cageside next to White.
White also introduced Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, underscoring the close ties between the two figures.
The proposed UFC event would mark an unprecedented use of the White House grounds for a professional combat sports showcase. While presidential residences have previously hosted musical performances, athletic ceremonies and social gatherings, no such sporting contest of this scale has ever taken place on site.
If confirmed, the event would be part of a wider set of celebrations planned for the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026.