Trump wants to celebrate 250 years of independence with a UFC fight at the White House
Jul 3, 2025, 7:08 PM
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s thinking of staging a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence.
鈥淲e have a lot of land there,鈥� said Trump, a UFC enthusiast who has attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends with Dana White, the league’s president.
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 announced a culminating festival on the National Mall in Washington, and a separate athletic competition featuring high school athletes from across the country.
鈥淪o 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鈥檙e going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.
鈥砊hink of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said, adding that it would be a 鈥渇ull fight鈥� with 20,000 to 25,000 people.
A White House spokesperson said they had no details to share beyond the president’s announcement.
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.
