UFC CEO Dana White says the mixed martial arts company “will absolutely” hold a fight card on the White House lawn on July 4, 2026 — a request made earlier this year by President Donald Trump.
“It’s absolutely going to happen,” White, 56, told the Associated Press on Monday, Aug. 11. “Think about it — the 250th birthday of the United States, the UFC will be live on the White House South Lawn on CBS.”
White’s announcement came just hours after the UFC signed a seven-year, $1.1 billion deal with Paramount+. The deal will put UFC fights on the streaming service and some on CBS.
President Trump, 79, has attended many UFC events since launching his re-election campaign last year. Many UFC fans are also part of his voter base. White has long been a Trump supporter — he spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016, calling Trump “a fighter.”
Last month, on Independence Day, Trump told a crowd he wanted a UFC fight on the White House grounds for America’s 250th anniversary. “We’re going to build a little octagon,” Trump said. “It’s going to be a championship fight, with 20,000 to 25,000 people there.”
The National Parks Service, which manages the White House grounds, has not confirmed the event and did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
White did not share details about the fight lineup, saying it’s too early to decide, but promised the event would be “one of a kind.” President Trump has not yet commented on White’s latest statement.
