Quick Hit:
President Trump announced Thursday that a UFC championship fight will be held on the White House lawn next year as part of the America250 celebrations.
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Diving Deeper:
During a raucous Thursday night rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, President Donald Trump laid out his vision for America’s 250th anniversary celebration—and it includes a never-before-seen spectacle on the White House lawn: a live UFC fight.
“Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White?” Trump asked the crowd. “We’re going to have a UFC fight—think of this—on the grounds of the White House.” He described the fight as a full-scale championship event with seating for between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators, adding, “We have a lot of land there, we’re going to build a little—we’re not, Dana is going to do it.”
The idea, while certain to draw criticism from political opponents, fits into Trump’s larger plan to make America250 a bold and populist celebration, marked by both reverence and entertainment. “We’re going to have some incredible events—some professional, some amateur,” he said. “But the UFC fight is going to be a big deal, too.”
Trump’s ties to Dana White and the UFC are long-standing. After his 2024 victory, Trump attended a UFC fight at Madison Square Garden alongside a group of allies and supporters—including Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, RFK Jr., Don Jr., and Kid Rock. More recently, he appeared at a UFC bout in Newark featuring Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley.
Thursday’s rally doubled as a victory lap for Trump following the passage of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which slashes taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits—measures he said fulfilled all of his 2024 campaign promises. Trump noted he had spent the previous night lobbying House Republicans in order to get the bill over the finish line.
As for the broader America250 rollout, Trump said every national park, battlefield, and historical site will host commemorative events throughout the coming year. He also announced a “Great American State Fair” to be held not only in Iowa but at fairgrounds across the country. The celebrations will culminate in a “giant patriotic festival” on the National Mall next summer, with exhibits from all 50 states.
Trump also said he would be opening the long-awaited National Garden of American Heroes—an outdoor park filled with statues of “the greatest Americans who ever lived.” Additionally, a sports competition dubbed the Patriot Games will bring together top high school athletes from each state in a nationwide showdown.
“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. “Together, we’re going to ensure that America’s 250th anniversary is the single greatest year in the history of our country.”