UFC at the White House: Dana White Confirms Historic Event with Trump

Dana White Confirms UFC Event at the White House

UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that a fight event at the White House for next July 4th is “absolutely a done deal.” White plans to travel to Washington later this month to meet with former President Donald Trump and his daughter, Ivanka, to discuss the logistics of the event. Trump had expressed his desire to organize a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House, with the intention of celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The event is expected to attract more than 20,000 spectators.

“It’s absolutely going to happen,” White stated. “Imagine that, the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, UFC in the South Lawn of the White House, live on CBS.”
Dana White

The vision of fights in the White House would have been unthinkable when the Fertitta brothers acquired UFC for $2 million in 2001 and appointed White to head the promotion. White led the company to a $4 billion sale in 2016 and negotiated broadcast deals with Fox and ESPN, before securing TKO Group’s most lucrative deal, a seven-year contract with Paramount starting in 2026, valued at $1.1 billion annually. This agreement includes the broadcast of all events in the United States via Paramount+ and the airing of select numbered events on CBS.

“We have the NFL, the NBA, UFC, and global soccer,” White said. “We’re coming for them.”
Dana White

Paramount intends to explore UFC rights outside the United States “as they become available in the future”. The UFC fight organizers will meet this week to define what White described as a Paramount inaugural card full of action. White indicated that it is too early to discuss the main event of the fight night at the White House. “This is a unique event,” White added. There are still details to be defined regarding UFC broadcasts and other television programs under its control, as the company adapts to the Paramount era. White mentioned that the agreement could involve finding new homes for “The Ultimate Fighter”, “Road To UFC”, and “Dana White’s Contender Series”. It is not guaranteed that the traditional start time of 10 p.m. for pay-per-view events will be maintained, especially on nights when the cards are also broadcast on CBS.