After first announcing plans for the card over the summer when President Donald Trump began the planning stages for celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the UFC landed at the White House for the historic event on June 14th.
The event will be held on the White House lawn, complete with elaborate staging, lighting and even an entrance from the Oval Office, and is expected to draw a lot of attention from around the world, regardless of their interest in MMA. There’s still a lot of planning left for the event, but UFC owner Ari Emanuel, CEO of the promotion’s parent company TKO Group Holdings, credited Dana White for spearheading the show because of his decades-long friendship with Trump.
Interestingly, Emanuel actually represented Trump during his foray into Hollywood with a TV series. apprentice But he still says White deserves all the credit for making the UFC White House card happen.
“Actually, I have to talk to my partner, Dana White,” Emanuel said during an appearance at a UFC White House event on the Norges Bank Investment Management podcast. “I was the acting president for seven or nine years when I was at NBC. He had a great relationship with Dana when the UFC started. He was the first to bring the UFC to Atlantic City at a time when no one else was doing it and it was called cockfighting.”
“They’ve had a great relationship. When the president was running for office for the second time, Dana helped him with his strategy in the social area and was very supportive. She’s been helpful to the president for a long time as well.”
White became one of President Trump’s biggest supporters ahead of the 2016 presidential election, including a speech at the Republican National Convention, but became more involved in the 2024 election.
The UFC’s CEO has regularly endorsed Trump in public, including on television, and White once gave a speech at the president’s re-election celebration. This relationship resulted in the first, and perhaps only, UFC White House card.
Of course, Trump’s popularity among UFC fighters and fans is well-documented, but the rise in political debate in the United States, which has often resulted in extreme violence, cannot be ignored either.
Right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking in Utah in September, further inflaming political tensions in the country.
Emanuel hopes the volatile climate calms down soon, especially as the UFC embarks on a White House card in 2026.
Asked about the possibility of politics turning into a martial art, Emanuel said: “I hope not.” “Looking at this situation with Charlie Kirk, I hope it’s some kind of watershed where people realize that this is a very bad path for the United States and for the world. I think we’re seeing this all over the world. It’s been a very combative situation in politics. But I hope no one gets choked up in politics. I just hope we readjust our thinking.”
“As Bill Maher said, I think it’s very important to talk to everyone, and I agree with that, because in order to find a compromise, you have to understand everyone and express your opinion. It’s like any negotiation. You can’t take everything off the table.”
Both White and Emanuel maintain strong ties to Trump, but the future of their relationship could become very interesting as the 2028 election approaches, especially if certain individuals become involved in the next presidential campaign.
During the interview, Emanuel spoke about his relationships with his two brothers, including Rahm Emanuel, who served as chief of staff in President Barack Obama’s administration before being elected mayor of Chicago.
Rahm Emanuel has hinted that he might run for president, and it’s clear he’ll have his brother’s support if that happens.
“Hopefully he will run for president,” Ali said of his brother Rahm. “I think he’s the best person for the Democratic Party.”