Rumble on the South Lawn.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to host a UFC fight on the White House lawn in 2026 as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said during a speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. “We have a lot of land there. We are going to build a little — we are not, Dana [White] is going to do it… we are going to have a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20–25,000 people, and we are going to do that as part of 250 also,” he said.
Trump, a regular presence at UFC events, often refers to himself as the “Combatant in Chief” and has a longstanding friendship with UFC president Dana White, a vocal political ally who has appeared at multiple Trump campaign events.
It’s unclear whether the event is in planning stages or simply a promise. UFC and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There has also been no confirmation from federal agencies on whether such a fight would be permitted or incorporated into the official Semiquincentennial program, the government’s formal celebration of the nation’s founding.
Still, the idea appears in line with Trump’s strategy of merging spectacle, sports, and politics to energize his base. His frequent appearances at UFC events have become a hallmark of his post-presidency brand. In June, Trump attended a UFC card in Newark, New Jersey, where he was greeted by cheers and posed for selfies with fighters and fans
