The US President has once again emerged as one of the most polarizing figures on the global stage, especially following a bold announcement made earlier this month. On July 3rd, while addressing the public at the Fairgrounds in Iowa, Trump revealed an unexpected plan during his speech. “We are gonna have a UFC fight… on the grounds of the White House,” declared Donald Trump. The event is being planned as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4 next year. The announcement caught many off guard, not just the public, but reportedly even Dana White.

Despite a friendship spanning over three decades, White was unaware of Donald Trump’s plans before the announcement. While Trump supporters hailed the idea as unconventional and patriotic, his critics reacted sharply. In response to the backlash, Dana White has now stepped forward to defend Trump’s vision, addressing the controversy in his latest interview.

Dana White breaks down the thinking behind a UFC event at the White House

It was Donald Trump who first came to the aid of a struggling Dana White and the UFC back in the early 2000s. As the UFC fought for legitimacy and survival, Trump stepped in by offering his Taj Mahal casino to host several key events. That pivotal gesture marked the beginning of a decades-long friendship between Trump and White. Last year, White returned the favor by openly endorsing Trump during his election campaign.

And now with Donald Trump back in the White House, he’s once again throwing his support behind the UFC. However, detractors labeled the proposal as “idiocracy,” while a senior investigative journalist from The Guardian denounced the plan as a “circus” and described it as “authoritarian theatre.” With the backlash growing, Dana White came forward to defend the POTUS’s vision. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, White unpacked the underlying “philosophy” behind the idea, stating, “One of the many things I love about him is his whole philosophy: the White House belongs to the American people, and the American people should be able to enjoy this place. You know, he’s doing the Easter egg hunts again for the kids, and he wants to do the fight there. He’s trying to figure out all these ways for Americans to enjoy the White House.”

Although the UFC’s White House event is still nearly a year away, the fight card is already generating buzz. Fighters are lining up for the opportunity to be part of what’s being called a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Fans are awaiting to see who makes the cut for what could become the unique and historic fight night in UFC history. However, Dana White has some disappointing news for the public.

Will ordinary Americans get a ticket to the UFC event at the White House?

While unveiling the highly anticipated UFC White House event, Donald Trump energized the crowd with a bold statement: “It’s going to be a championship fight—full fight—with 20,000 to 25,000 people.” His remark not only fueled excitement but also hinted at ambitious plans to break UFC live gate records—likely by staging the event on the expansive South Lawn of the White House. However, UFC CEO Dana White offered a more measured outlook when it comes to ticket access. He doesn’t expect the event to be open to the general public and believes it will likely be an invitation-only affair.

Speaking on the Full Send podcast, the UFC CEO confirmed that preparations are already in motion. But when it comes to attendance, he emphasized that security is the primary concern. Addressing the logistical hurdles, Dana White explained, “Tons of challenges. First of all, I don’t even know how many people can get in, not to mention the fact that Secret Service isn’t going to let a lot of people come do this. Everybody’s going to have to have background checks.”

While fans may not be able to physically attend the fight inside the White House grounds, Dana White assured that the event will still be a one-of-a-kind spectacle, broadcast worldwide via pay-per-view. As of now, neither the UFC nor the White House has released specific details regarding attendance. Expect updates in the coming months; stay tuned.