Trump’s Bringing UFC to the White House in 2026
Posted on: July 4, 2025, 12:16h.
Last updated on: July 4, 2025, 12:18h.
- Live UFC event in 2026 to mark America’s 250th birthday
- Trump a big UFC supporter
- Sportsbook trader expects “above-average” business
U.S. President Donald Trump has a been a front row regular at UFC fights, most recently at UFC 316 in New Jersey in June. Now he wants to bring a UFC event to the White House lawn.
UFC on the White House Lawn
Trump told a crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds yesterday that the event will be held in honour of America’s 250th birthday, and said he expects 25,000 at the event.
Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re gonna have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said. “We’re not going to build a little, we’re not, Dana is going to do it, a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight. We’re going to have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events. But the UFC fight is going to be a big deal.”
Trump Says to Expect up to 25,000
The UFC would construct an octagon somewhere on the White House property. Trump has a tight relationship with the UFC CEO White, who always accompanies the President to UFC live events. White spoke at the Republican Convention in support of Trump last summer.
When Trump joined TikTok in June 2024, gaining millions of followers after launching the account, it was White on there with him, at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, making the announcement.
“The president is now on TikTok,” White said. Trump responded: “It’s my honor.”
UFC CEO a Big Supporter of Trump
A UFC spokesperson told Variety that plans are in the works, and details will be announced shortly.
“It’s going to be EPIC!” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.
UFC has not yet released a statement confirming the event.
At UFC 316, Trump walked into a thunderous roar, ahead of White, a card led by Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight title bout against Sean O’Malley (Dvalishvili was the victor) and a women’s bantamweight title bout between Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison. Harrison won the fight by submission, and later walked into the crown to shake Trump’s hand, and wrap the belt around him.
Obviously it’s too early to project, and it’s tough to gauge, but a live UFC White House event featuring top-ranked UFC fights would be a boost to betting.
“Personally, with the variables involved, such as Donald Trump, outside set up and most crucially, bouts likely to be PPV level, then surely we would expect above average business,” said Mark Collier, a trader with BetVictor.
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