DES MOINES, Iowa — President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is considering hosting a UFC event on the White House grounds, with more than 20,000 attendees, as a way to commemorate 250 years of American independence.
“We have a lot of land there,” stated Trump, an enthusiast of UFC who has attended multiple mixed martial arts events recently and shares a close friendship with Dana White, the president of the league.
Trump announced his plan in Iowa during the kickoff for a year’s worth of festivities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
The Republican president also unveiled plans for a grand festival on the National Mall in Washington, as well as a separate athletic competition featuring high school athletes from across the nation.
“So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.
Think of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said, adding that it would be a “full fight” with 20,000 to 25,000 people.
A White House spokesperson said they had no details to share beyond the president’s announcement, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said Trump was “dead serious” about those plans.
Trump has recently enjoyed standing ovations and cage-side seats for several UFC fights, including an appearance immediately after his 2024 reelection and another just last month alongside White for two championship fights.
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