On Donald Trump’s 80th birthday next year, the White House will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight, marking a significant event for the Trump administration. The planned fight, originally scheduled for July 4, 2026, was revealed by the president during a speech at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia.
“We’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House,” Trump told a crowd of Navy sailors, without mentioning the coincidental timing of the event with his birthday.
This announcement shifts the date of the UFC event to June 14, 2026 — the president’s 80th birthday. Trump’s association with the UFC is well known; the president is a regular attendee at high-profile matches, where he has been greeted like a celebrity by fans.
UFC President Dana White previously stated that the UFC’s first event at the White House would be held on July 4, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States. White also expressed his excitement about the event, saying, “We’ll start looking at building the White House card, which I will right now tell you will be the greatest fight card ever assembled in the history of definitely this company.”
The UFC is renowned for its blend of various martial arts disciplines, such as jiu-jitsu, boxing, and wrestling. While the sport’s intense and brutal nature has sparked controversy due to its high injury rates, it has become increasingly popular, particularly among young men a key demographic in the upcoming 2024 U.S. election.
This UFC event at the White House will be a historic first, placing a physically intense and controversial sport at the heart of U.S. political power.
