Hold on to your hats, sports fans, because if former President Donald Trump gets his way, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to the most iconic lawn in America. Picture this: the historic grounds of the White House, not for a state dinner, but for a full-blown UFC fight. It sounds like something from a movie script, doesn’t it?
Trump dropped this bombshell during a rally in Iowa on Thursday. He announced big plans to host a UFC event right at the presidential residence in 2026. The timing isn’t random; it’s designed to be part of the huge 250th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
He asked the crowd, “Anybody see UFC?” He then singled out “the great Dana White,” the UFC President. Trump laid out a grand vision: “We’re going to have a UFC fight at the White House. We’ve got enough room there.” He praised White, calling him “fantastic, one of a kind.” The plan, as he described it, is for a full title fight, with the potential to draw “20, 25 thousand people.” He envisions “some incredible events,” including both professional and amateur fights, with UFC leading the charge.
This isn’t just a random idea pulled from thin air. Trump and Dana White share a very public, very close friendship. White has often voiced strong support for Trump in the past. He’s even appeared at Republican Party conventions and campaigned for Trump before the 2020 election. Their bond runs deep.
Trump himself is a familiar face at many UFC events. He was recently spotted at UFC 316 in New Jersey, where several fighters actually leaped out of the octagon to greet him. It shows a genuine connection, not just a passing interest.
While UFC has held events in Washington D.C. before, a full-scale sports event like this at the White House would be a first. It’s an unprecedented move, blending high-stakes combat sports with the very core of American political history. Exactly how such an event would be staged logistically, with security, seating for thousands, and the necessary infrastructure, remains to be seen. But the fact that UFC itself posted the video of Trump’s announcement on its Instagram page suggests this isn’t just talk. It seems both sides are seriously exploring this wild idea.