The UFC is holding a one-of-a-kind card at the White House on June 14 but Dana White denies that there’s anything politically motivated behind the event.
It was actually President Donald Trump who first teased the White House hosting a UFC event after he announced plans to hold numerous celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America in 2026. Of course, Trump has been close friends with White for decades after he welcomed the UFC to many of his venues in Atlantic City long before he was president.
White maintained that relationship with Trump and he’s appeared on his behalf at three Republican National Conventions during election years and even joined his re-election campaign in 2024. But White claims there’s nothing political about the UFC White House card and he hopes fans from all sides of the aisle watch and enjoy the event.
“One of the myths that I would like to crush is I don’t care if you’re far right, far left, right down the middle, wherever you sit politically because everybody sits somewhere politically these days, this isn’t about politics,” White said on The Pat McAfee Show.
“This is about the United States, what this country is about, how it was built, where we all came from.”
White’s proclamation comes just days after the promotion hosted Trump at UFC 327 in Miami and like usual gave him a full walkout into the arena during the event, which aired on Paramount+. Several other notable members of Trump’s cabinet were also in attendance including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump has been flanked by many members of his political team at past UFC events including Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr. Each time, Trump is given a special entrance as he walks into the arena, usually to the sounds of Kid Rock’s song “American Badass.”
But still, White insists that politics are playing no part in the upcoming UFC White House card with the promotion footing the bill for the entire event.
“If you love America, you’re going to love this event,” White said. “It has nothing to do with politics. We just happen to be on the White House lawn and the President of the United States will be there.”
While discussing the upcoming show, White confirmed that there’s no tax payer money going into staging the event with TKO Group Holdings president previously stated that the company would like spend upwards of $60 million to stage the card.
The UFC is building a massive structure on the south lawn where the fights are going to be held with hopes that weather won’t be a concern come June 14. The actual structure is being built overseas with White previously revealing that the UFC would likely begin working on the setup at the White House sometime in May.
“All I want to see when I’m watching these fights is the White House in the background,” White said. “So they found this thing, it’s being built over in Europe. It’s going to be shipped to Philadelphia and then it’s going to be trucked from Philly to Washington D.C. and we’ll start to build it on the south lawn of the White House.”
The UFC White House card goes down on June 14 with broadcast plans and times for the event still to be determined.
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