Washington D.C., USA – The White House is set to make history next year by hosting an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event as part of the 4th of July celebrations, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. This unprecedented event was confirmed by UFC boss Dana White, a long-time friend of President Donald Trump.
A White House First for Combat Sports
“It is definitely going to happen,” White told CBS Mornings on Tuesday. He revealed plans to meet with President Trump and his daughter Ivanka later this month to finalize logistics for the event. A White House official also confirmed the planned fight to the BBC.
This marks the first time a UFC fighting competition will be hosted at the White House. While the exact location on the grounds remains unclear, UFC fights typically draw tens of thousands and are held in large arenas with the sport’s trademarked eight-sided octagon cage. Trump had previously teased the idea of a White House fight during an event in Iowa last month, suggesting a cage could be built on the grounds to accommodate up to 25,000 spectators as part of a year-long celebration for the nation’s 250th birthday, which will also include special events at national parks and historic sites.
White emphasized President Trump’s personal involvement, stating, “When he called me and asked me to do it, he said: ‘I want Ivanka in the middle of this.’
Trump’s White House Transformations and Recent Media Deal
The UFC fight is the latest in a series of initiatives by President Trump to leave a distinctive mark on the White House during his second term. Renovating the complex has been a priority, with visible changes including redecorating the Oval Office with gold decor, paving over the grass lawn in the Rose Garden, and erecting two large flagpoles on the north and south lawns. He has also announced plans to build a new $200 million ballroom in the East Wing, a project expected to begin in September 2025 and be completed before the end of his term. Last week, he was seen inspecting the roof of the West Wing, suggesting it was “another way to spend my money for this country.”
The announcement of the White House UFC event comes shortly after Paramount, which owns CBS, finalized a massive seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to stream UFC fights, starting in 2026. This agreement will see UFC’s full lineup of 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights exclusively on Paramount+, with select numbered events simulcast on CBS, aiming for broader accessibility. The Trump administration recently approved a heavily scrutinized merger between Skydance and Paramount, which included certain commitments from the companies to the administration prior to its approval.
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