President Donald Trump said Thursday during his speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds that the White House is hoping to host a UFC event next year as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Trump traveled to Des Moines to kick off the July 4 festivities, teasing what voters can expect during next year’s big celebration. While discussing where “special events” will take place, Trump said he hopes to host a full championship fight with 20,000 to 25,000 people on the White House grounds as a part of the celebrations.
“So every one of our national park[s], battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight. We’re going to have — does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.
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“We’re going to have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We’re going to build a little — we’re not — Dana is going to do it,” Trump added. “Dana is great, one of a kind. We’re going to have a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20-25,000 people. And we’re going to do that as part of [America] 250 also. 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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said he is “dead serious” about the plans.
Trump has long supported the UFC and its CEO Dana White, who campaigned alongside the president during the 2024 election cycle. While attending a handful of UFC events over the years, Trump has consistently been greeted with chants of “USA, USA” and massive applause from the crowd.
During his first attendance after winning the 2024 election, the crowd erupted in cheers at UFC 309 in November, as he was accompanied by members of his administration, including National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“The sound in this room — it is so loud,” announcer and podcast host Joe Rogan could be heard saying at the event. “It’s always loud when he comes here, but now that he’s won, now that he’s president — oh my God.”
The UFC did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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