Featured Image Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: US News, Donald Trump, UFC, Dana White
Brenna Cooper
Topics: US News, Donald Trump, UFC, Dana White
Donald Trump has cemented his legacy as America's showman president after announcing that a UFC match will take place on the grounds of the White House.
Given that the businessman-turned-politician has an extensive background in reality TV, it should come as no surprise that he is running the country in a similar manner.
As well as continuing to conduct his presidency via social media, Trump has made numerous questionable appointments to his staff - notably his now ex-best-friend Elon Musk - and even hosted an impromptu Tesla sales pitch on the White House lawn to give his former first buddy's car company the presidential stamp of approval.
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A move which he is probably regretting, given the very messy end to the Trump-Musk bromance.
Keen to leave his mark on Washington, D.C., Trump has now announced the White House will host a UFC event to mark America's 250th birthday.
Because it was only a matter of time before the seat of US power hosted a major sporting event wasn't it?
Confirming the decision at a rally in Iowa, the 79-year-old said: "We’re going to have a UFC fight. We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House.
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"We have a lot of land there, we’re going to build a little — we’re not, Dana is going to do it. Dana is great, one of a kind — going to be UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people, and we’re going to do that as part of 250 [celebrations]." he continued.
America will celebrate 250 years since declaring independence on 4 July 2026, with the president promising year long celebrations to take place across the nation.
"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," he added.
Watch the clip below to hear the words from Trump himself:
The ambitious plan has since been confirmed by the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the president was 'dead serious' about the idea.
"It’s going to be EPIC!" she added on X.
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Meanwhile, a UFC spokesperson has also confirmed to CNN that that talks about hosting the event have commenced.
Trump's decision to erect a cage on the White House lawn isn't one which has come out of nowhere, with the US leader having a long history with the combat sport and its president, Dana White.
White had introduced Trump at the 2024 Republican National Congress last July, calling the businessman a 'fighter' in his speech.
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Trump would later celebrate his re-election to the White House by attending UFC event in New York alongside Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Kid Rock, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.
The president was also in attendance at UFC 316 in New Jersey last month, seated ringside for the event alongside White.