Donald Trump will be turning the White House into a UFC arena for America250 celebration
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to host a UFC fight at the White House grounds.
The proposed event, as part of the celebrations for America's 250th anniversary, would draw up to 25,000 spectators.
'Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? 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.
The event is part of a wider celebration for America250, which includes special programs at national parks, battlefields, and historic sites.
The decision to turn the nation's fabled White House into a blood sport arena will likely ignite some backlash from the US left, but Trump has never been one to let optics get in his way — even if it is the US equivalent of hosting an Anthony Mundine fight at The Lodge.
'Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of 'America250' and I even think we're going to have a UFC fight,' Trump added.
The 79-year-old said UFC President, and also his longtime friend, Dana White would handle the logistics of the fight.
'We have a lot of land there … 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' also.'
The president has attended multiple UFC events in the past, including one last month in Newark.
After the November 5 election, Trump also appeared at Madison Square Garden for a UFC fight alongside Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Jr., and Kid Rock.
UFC fight 'a big deal'
Trump's Iowa visit marked the official launch of the America250 initiative, and doubled as a celebration of the newly passed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' which fulfilled campaign pledges to cut taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.
'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, too,' Trump said.
The fighting promotion has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past two decades, largely helped along by Joe Rogan's surging popularity as a podcaster and commentator.
Plans also include a 'Great American State Fair' hosted in Iowa and other states, a massive festival on the National Mall, and the official opening of the National Garden of American Heroes. Trump also mentioned the Patriot Games, a national athletic competition featuring top high school athletes from every state.
'Exactly one year from tomorrow, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's founding with a birthday party the likes of which you have never seen before,' Trump said.
In New York, Sail4th 250 will feature a six-day maritime celebration with over 30 tall ships, a Blue Angels flight show, and displays of rare historical documents.
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