The UFC is in the White House.
At a rally in Iowa on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced plans to hold a UFC event at the White House in 2026 as part of his ambitious plan to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.
“Is anyone watching the UFC?” Trump told his supporters in attendance. “Great Dana White. I’m going to fight the UFC on the White House grounds. There’s a lot of land there, and Dana is trying to do that.
“We’re holding some incredible events. Some professional events, some amateur events, and the UFC fights are also a big deal.”
Of course, Trump maintains an intimate friendship with UFC CEO Dana White. Dana White has even been confused for him during his appearances ahead of the 2020 election, including appearances at the Republican National Convention in the past.
Trump is a regular fixture for many UFC events, including New Jersey’s recent UFC 316 cards. There, many athletes leapt over the octagon and greeted the president sitting on Cageside.
The UFC had previously held events in Washington, DC, but this is the first time that a major sporting event has actually been held on the White House grounds. It’s still not clear how exactly that will unfold, but the UFC also posted a clip to the promotional Instagram account.
Trump has released many ideas he has for the 250 Americans, including the Patriot Games. This will compete against each other for young athletes from all 50 states at various events.
The Trump announcement also adds yet another part to the UFC puzzle as the company continues to negotiate new broadcast rights deals in 2026. The opportunity to showcase his first sporting event at the White House is certainly Cherry, along with a partnership that UFC brokers reportedly seeking around $100 million as part of their new deal.