Trump announces UFC fight hosted at White House

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to host a live UFC championship bout on the grounds of the White House next year as part of nationwide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Speaking at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, Trump told the crowd the event would be “a championship fight” with a live audience of between 20,000 and 25,000 people.

“Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We're going to have a UFC fight. We're going to have a UFC fight – think of this – on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” Trump said during his appearance at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The president, who has maintained a close friendship with UFC President Dana White, described the bout as part of a larger schedule of “incredible events” planned for the America250 celebrations, which he said would include both professional and amateur showcases.

“We are going to have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events,” Trump told supporters.

Following the announcement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plan in a post on X, writing, “It’s going to be EPIC!”

Trump has long had ties to the UFC. Back in 2001, he hosted a fight at his Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City during a period when the promotion struggled to secure venues. Dana White has since been a vocal supporter of Trump’s political career, famously endorsing him during the 2016 campaign and continuing to praise him publicly.

After a failed assassination attempt on Trump last year, White described the president as “the legitimate, ultimate, American badass of all time.”

The UFC event is expected to be just one of many initiatives tied to the America250 celebrations on July 4, 2026. “Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of America250,” Trump added.