Donald Trump news: US President considers hosting UFC fight on White House lawn for America's 250th birthday
'We have a lot of land there,' Mr Trump said on Thursday.
A longtime UFC fan and close friend of the sport's league president Dana White, Mr Trump has attended several major mixed martial arts events in recent months.
He shared the idea during a speech in Iowa, where he was launching a year-long series of events leading up to America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
'So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of America 250. And I even think we're going to have a UFC fight,' Mr Trump said.
'Think of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,' he added, suggesting the event could feature 'a full fight' with 20,000 to 25,000 attendees watching on.
A White House spokesperson said there were no details to add beyond the President's announcement.
Mr Trump received enthusiastic receptions at recent UFC events, including one appearance immediately after his 2024 reelection and another last month with Dana White for two championship bouts.
As well as a possible UFC fight, Mr Trump is planning a culminating festival on the National Mall and a national athletic competition for high school athletes as part of the America 250 celebrations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Australian tennis star Jordan Thompson storms into fourth round at Wimbledon
Jordan Thompson's adventures in Wimbledon wonderland keep amazing with the wounded warrior storming into the fourth round for the first time while declaring: 'I'm not anywhere near 100 per cent -- but I'm still fighting my arse off every point.' Harbouring a debilitating back injury that made him moan after his two previous courageous five-set wins that even 'snails move faster', Thompson looked in sharper nick and reckoned he felt much improved on Friday as he beat Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 in their third-round clash. It booked the battling 'Tommo' his first last-16 appearance at Wimbledon at the ninth attempt, and only the second fourth-round date of his grand slam career, matching his US Open performance of last year and 2020. And it's set him up believing he can prevail in a mouth-watering showcourt last-16 date on Sunday with in-form fifth seed Taylor Fritz, the big-serving American he beat on the grass at Queen's Club last year. 'It's a pathetic outlook if I go out there thinking I can't win. I won last time on grass, but very different grass, in different circumstances. So, you know, it'll be a new day,' said the 31-year-old Sydneysider. On the eve of the Championships, the injury-plagued Thompson wasn't sure he would be fit to play because of the painful sacroiliac joint problem in his back. He has also battled on in the doubles here, so as not to let down partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert. 'When I was warming up for the doubles yesterday, I was seriously questioning what I was doing out there, but I actually felt better as the day went on. 'And today was actually a lot better. Don't know why, but felt half-normal on the court. But to make my first Wimbledon fourth-round under the circumstances at the moment is incredible.' He's the first Australian to reach the fourth round at the grass-court slam this year, with both Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina having the chance to join him on Saturday. In the amphitheatre of Court 18, marathon man Thompson managed to avoid having to go to five sets for a third straight match - while always looking more comfortable on his favourite surface than the 23-year-old grass-court novice, even when Darderi grabbed the third set. There's was a flashpoint on set point at the end of the first set when Thompson caught his own cap as it fell off his head while he returned serve, but the rally continued, he won the stanza, only for Darderi to protest furiously that the point should be replayed because of hindrance. 'It didn't hinder him. It hindered me. So I don't know what he was complaining about, but I get where he's coming from, because it puts both of us off,' conceded Thompson. Last-16 opponent Fritz defeated Spain's 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, also reporting, like Thompson, he's feeling better by the match after tendinitis trouble. Earlier, Rinky Hijikata's daydream of pulling off the greatest of Wimbledon escapes against American big-hitter Ben Shelton lasted less than a minute when the pair resumed their match that was suspended controversially with the 10th seed about to serve for the match. When the match resumed on No.2 Court in the Friday afternoon sunshine, everyone could see the funny side once Shelton he won all four points in just 55 seconds, including three booming aces, to complete the straightforward 6-2 7-5 6-4 victory in two hours 12 minutes. Sydneysider Hijikata, who had been unable to dent the two-time grand semi-finalist's delivery all match, couldn't help but grin ruefully. 'Last night's experience was bizarre ... but today that was probably an absolute clinic on how to serve out a match if you've got one game to go,' said Hijikata. 'I thought it was bloody good effort by him.'
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
President Donald Trump signs 'Big, Beautiful Bill' into law as United States celebrates Independence Day
President Donald Trump has signed his landmark 'Big, Beautiful Bill' into law on an historic Independence Day for the United States. The mega tax and spending bill cleared its last hurdle on Thursday after narrowly passing the US Congress with 218-214 votes. On Friday Trump staged an outdoor ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds gathered in unison including White House aides, members of Congress, and military families, to support the President's landmark moment, following a tumultuous battle. Military jets soared overhead in salute as the President rejoiced in his victory. The stealth bombers and fighter jets resembled those that took part in the recent US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. After a speech that included boastful claims about the ascendance of America on his watch, Trump signed the bill, posed for pictures with Republican congressional leaders and members of his cabinet, and waded through the crowd of happy supporters. The controversial bill is expected to fund Trump's immigration crackdown, make his 2017 tax cuts permanent, and is expected to knock millions of Americans off health insurance. "I've never seen people so happy in our country because of that, because so many different groups of people are being taken care of: the military, civilians of all types, jobs of all types," Trump said at the ceremony, thanking House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for leading the bill through the two houses of Congress. "So you have the biggest tax cut, the biggest spending cut, the largest border security investment in American history." The bill represents a dramatic realignment of the federal government's role in American life, shifting resources from the social safety net and investments in clean energy and reorienting them to finance trillions of dollars in spending on tax cuts. Despite concerns within Trump's party over the bill's hefty price tag and its hit to healthcare programs, in the end just two of the House's 220 Republicans voted against it, following an intense overnight standoff. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin predicted the law would cost Republicans votes in congressional elections in 2026. "Today, Donald Trump sealed the fate of the Republican Party, cementing them as the party for billionaires and special interests - not working families," Martin said in a statement. "This legislation will hang around the necks of the GOP for years to come. This was a full betrayal of the American people. Today, we are putting Republicans on notice: you will lose your majority." -With Reuters
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
No snail's pace as Tommo breaks new Wimbledon ground
Jordan Thompson's adventures in Wimbledon wonderland keep amazing with the wounded warrior storming into the fourth round for the first time while declaring: 'I'm not anywhere near 100 per cent -- but I'm still fighting my ass off every point.' Harbouring a debilitating back injury that made him moan after his two previous courageous five-set wins that even 'snails move faster', Thompson looked in sharper nick and reckoned he felt much improved on Friday as he beat Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 in their third-round clash. It booked the battling 'Tommo' his first last-16 appearance at Wimbledon at the ninth attempt, and only the second fourth-round date of his grand slam career, matching his US Open performance of last year and 2020. And it's set him up believing he can prevail in a mouth-watering showcourt last-16 date on Sunday with in-form fifth seed Taylor Fritz, the big-serving American he beat on the grass at Queen's Club last year. 'It's a pathetic outlook if I go out there thinking I can't win. I won last time on grass, but very different grass, in different circumstances. So, you know, it'll be a new day,' said the 31-year-old Sydneysider. On the eve of the Championships, the injury-plagued Thompson wasn't sure he would be fit to play because of the painful sacroiliac joint problem in his back. He has also battled on in the doubles here, so as not to let down partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert. 'When I was warming up for the doubles yesterday, I was seriously questioning what I was doing out there, but I actually felt better as the day went on. Jordan Thompson has done it again, defying his injury to make it to the fourth round at Wimbledon. (EPA PHOTO) Credit: AAP 'And today was actually a lot better. Don't know why, but felt half-normal on the court. But to make my first Wimbledon fourth-round under the circumstances at the moment is incredible.' He's the first Australian to reach the fourth round at the grass-court slam this year, with both Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina having the chance to join him on Saturday. In the amphitheatre of Court 18, marathon man Thompson managed to avoid having to go to five sets for a third straight match - while always looking more comfortable on his favourite surface than the 23-year-old grass-court novice, even when Darderi grabbed the third set. There's was a flashpoint on set point at the end of the first set when Thompson caught his own cap as it fell off his head while he returned serve, but the rally continued, he won the stanza, only for Darderi to protest furiously that the point should be replayed because of hindrance. 'It didn't hinder him. It hindered me. So I don't know what he was complaining about, but I get where he's coming from, because it puts both of us off,' conceded Thompson. Last-16 opponent Fritz defeated Spain's 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, also reporting, like Thompson, he's feeling better by the match after tendinitis trouble. Earlier, Rinky Hijikata's daydream of pulling off the greatest of Wimbledon escapes against American big-hitter Ben Shelton lasted less than a minute when the pair resumed their match that was suspended controversially with the 10th seed about to serve for the match. Ben Shelton of United States celebrates against Rinky Hijikata. Credit: Hannah Peters / Getty Images When the match resumed on No.2 Court in the Friday afternoon sunshine, everyone could see the funny side once Shelton he won all four points in just 55 seconds, including three booming aces, to complete the straightforward 6-2 7-5 6-4 victory in two hours 12 minutes. Sydneysider Hijikata, who had been unable to dent the two-time grand semi-finalist's delivery all match, couldn't help but grin ruefully. 'Last night's experience was bizarre ... but today that was probably an absolute clinic on how to serve out a match if you've got one game to go,' said Hijikata. 'I thought it was bloody good effort by him.'
