Donald Trump Announces UFC Championship Fight at White House for 250th Anniversary
Enet
The White House will host a UFC fight next year to celebrate 250 years of American independence, President Donald Trump announced. The event will be a "championship fight" with around 20,000 to 25,000 fans in attendance, Trump told a crowd in Iowa on Thursday. The president, who has a close friendship with UFC president Dana White, said: "We are going to have some incredible events, both professional and amateur." Trump has been to several UFC events, including UFC 316 in Newark last month, where he was seen watching a fight with White.
While speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Trump asked the crowd: "Does anyone watch UFC? The great Dana White? We're going to have a UFC fight—imagine this—right on the White House grounds. We have plenty of space there." After Trump's announcement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plans on X, writing: "It's going to be EPIC!"
Trump has had connections to UFC for more than 20 years. In 2001, he hosted a UFC fight at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City when White was searching for a venue. White has supported Trump from the start, endorsing his 2016 presidential run and calling him a "fighter."
Following a failed attempt to assassinate Trump last year, White called him a "tough guy" and the "ultimate American badass." Trump mentioned the UFC event as part of celebrations for America’s 250th birthday on July 4 next year. He added that every national park, battlefield, and historic site will hold special events for America250.
