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The UFC plans to host a fight card on the grounds of the White House as part of the 250th anniversary celebration of American independence, a spokesperson for the organization confirmed to NBC News on Friday.
Details remain scarce, but President Donald Trump, speaking at a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, said the event would be a marquee feature of the July 4, 2026 festivities and could include a UFC title fight in front of 20,000 to 25,000 spectators.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said. “We have a lot of land there.”
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He added that every U.S. national park, battlefield, and historic site would be hosting commemorative events for America 250, but noted, “I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight.”
A Symbolic Return for Trump and the UFC
The proposed White House fight card would mark an unprecedented moment in combat sports history — a major mixed martial arts event held on federal grounds, directly outside the seat of executive power.
UFC President Dana White, a longtime friend and political ally of Trump, has not yet confirmed specific fighters or bouts for the event, but a spokesperson said more information would be shared “in due time.”
One major name has already shown interest: former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who has been inactive since suffering a leg injury in July 2021, posted on social media:
“I would be honoured. Count me in!”
Trump’s Long History With Combat Sports
Trump’s involvement in combat sports dates back to the 1980s when he hosted heavyweight boxing matches at his hotels and casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In recent years, he’s become a prominent figure at UFC pay-per-view events, often seated cageside and surrounded by a blend of political and sports figures.
Following his 2024 election win, Trump brought Dana White onstage at a rally to thank him for his support. Just days later, Trump appeared ringside at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden, joined by allies including Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his future pick for Health and Human Services Secretary.
Celebrating America 250 in Style
The America 250 campaign is expected to include major cultural, historical, and recreational events across the country, but the UFC fight card at the White House would be one of the highest-profile and most unconventional.
Security, crowd size, and the logistics of staging a professional MMA card on federal property — particularly the South Lawn or Ellipse — remain significant unknowns. No major sports league has ever hosted an event of this scale on White House grounds.
Political Overtones Remain
The announcement adds to the increasingly blurred lines between politics, sports, and entertainment during Trump’s second term. UFC’s role in campaign optics and political messaging has grown under Trump’s influence, with fighters often speaking at rallies or endorsing the president.
Whether symbolic spectacle or a full-on professional fight card, the idea of a UFC event on White House grounds signals Trump’s continued flair for mixing pop culture with political theater — and raises the stakes for America’s 250th birthday.
