President Donald Trump says UFC Freedom 250 at the White House will be the highest-rated sporting event ever and expects over 100,000 people to watch from a park across the street on giant screens.
Trump spoke to Fox News ahead of the June 14 event on the South Lawn of the White House.
“It’s right at the front door to the White House, and you’ll never see it again. It’s never happened before, and you’ll never see it again. It’s great and the UFC’s going to have all the best fighters in the world coming that night. They all say we want to fight at the White House. Dana is an amazing man, he’s done an amazing job, he’s put together something that — this will be the highest-rated event, maybe one of them ever in sports.”
Trump also addressed plans for public viewing areas surrounding the venue.
“What he’s done is amazing, I’m not sure anybody could have done it but him. You don’t usually say that but not many people could have, he’s a very special man. This is going and it’s all free. It’s going to soldiers. We’re going to have over 100,000, maybe 100,000 people in the park across the street, eight giant screens, and all free.”
UFC Freedom 250 is headlined by the lightweight title unification between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event. The event streams exclusively on Paramount+ with approximately 5,000 spectators expected on the South Lawn.
Dana White isn’t losing sleep over whether his close ties to Donald Trump have impacted the UFC’s business.
The UFC boss addressed the topic during a recent appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, where he was asked if the promotion’s visible alignment with Trump has led to any financial consequences.
With the US President remaining a polarizing figure in American politics, the question has lingered as the UFC continues to feature him prominently at events and collaborates on high-profile ventures.
I don’t give a sht,” White said. “I don’t know the answer to that question. I’ve gotten to a point in my life, especially after COVID and all the nutty sht that went on during that time, that I only want to be in business with and talk to people that I’m aligned with.”
Dana White is asked if being supportive of Trump has cost the UFC any business.
Long-standing Relationship Between Trump And White Continues To Shape UFC’s Direction
White and Trump’s relationship stretches back decades, well before Trump entered politics. The UFC CEO has often credited Trump for giving the promotion a platform during its early years, hosting events when the sport struggled to find mainstream acceptance.
That loyalty has remained consistent throughout Trump’s political rise. White publicly supported him during multiple presidential campaigns and played a visible role in his most recent run, helping connect Trump with younger audiences through podcast appearances and digital platforms.
Their alignment is now more visible than ever, with the UFC preparing to host UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. The event, a first of its kind, further underscores the close relationship between the promotion and the president.
The 79-year-old Republican leader has also become a regular presence at UFC events, often receiving a high-profile walkout and a strong reception from crowds. Despite that visibility, White has consistently maintained that the UFC operates independently of political agendas.
A shooting near the White House on Monday has placed renewed focus on security planning ahead of the UFC’s upcoming event on the South Lawn.
According to the Secret Service, an armed individual was shot by law enforcement following a confrontation near the Washington Monument, just a few blocks from the White House complex. The incident prompted a brief lockdown, with reporters escorted inside as authorities responded.
White House locked down after nearby officer-involved shooting
A bystander was also struck, while emergency crews transported at least one individual to the hospital. No injuries were reported within the White House itself, and scheduled activities continued.
The development comes just over a month before UFC Freedom 250, a first-of-its-kind event scheduled for June 14 in Washington, D.C. The UFC plans to stage the card inside a custom-built structure on the South Lawn, with approximately 4,300 attendees expected, the majority of them military personnel.
Meanwhile, up to 85,000 fans are set to gather at the nearby Ellipse, where large screens, stages, and fan activations will be set up for public viewing.
Dana White says there will be 4,300 people at the #UFCWhiteHouse event and most of them will be military.
Given the scale and high-profile location, security has already been a central component of planning. UFC CEO Dana White previously confirmed coordination with military officials, who will monitor conditions closely in the lead-up to the event. White has also acknowledged the unpredictability of outdoor hosting, noting that the start time could be adjusted based on conditions during fight week.
At this stage, there is no indication that Monday’s incident will impact the UFC card. However, it highlights the level of logistical and security coordination required for an event of this scale at one of the most closely monitored locations in the United States.
The fight card is set to be headlined by Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed lightweight title against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira taking on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event, alongside five additional bouts scheduled for the card.
Donald Trump has confirmed that construction on the temporary arena for UFC Freedom 250 will begin at the White House South Lawn within the next week, offering the clearest look yet at the scale of what is being built for the June 14 event.
Speaking to reporters on May 1, Trump described an approximately 5,000-seat structure that will house the Octagon, while also revealing that an additional 100,000 spectators will be positioned further away at the White House Ellipse with access to screens.
“The arena, they’re going to start building it over the next week.”
He also addressed the cost for those watching from the Ellipse.
“It’s all free. It’s going to be great.”
A mockup of the arena has already been assembled in Lititz, Pennsylvania, giving a preview of the soaring 90-foot tall open-air structure that will serve as the venue. The White House declined to provide additional details about the structure or the event beyond what Trump shared with reporters.
The seven-fight card on June 14 falls on Trump’s 80th birthday and coincides with the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The main event is Ilia Topuria defending the undisputed UFC lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally of Trump, has said he believes the event will be the most-watched UFC card in history.
Trump has a long history with combat sports, having hosted boxing matches at his casinos during the 1980s and 1990s and attending UFC events regularly in recent years, including the April 11 event in Miami.
UFC CEO and President Dana White was at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel on April 25, where shots were fired.
According to multiple reports, a 31-year-old California man — who is now in custody — rushed a security checkpoint at the dinner before opening fire. The gunshots took place either near or inside the hotel’s ballroom.
U.S. President Donald Trump was evacuated from the stage, as well as his wife, Melania. Both of them and all members of the Trump Cabinet are safe.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor. USA TODAY reporters inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel say they heard loud… pic.twitter.com/wsaAi22p3K
Law enforcement officials quickly evacuated those present at the dinner, which was quickly canceled following the incident.
One officer was shot in the incident but was saved by his bulletproof vest, according to President Trump.
Dana White Says Shooting At White House Correspondents’ Dinner Was “Crazy, Unique Experience”
White was one of those whom the media asked about his experience as events unfolded at the dinner. While other attendees talked about a scary scene, White seemed more upbeat.
UFC CEO Dana White was in attendance during the alleged shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and gave his reaction.
"It was f*cking awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience."
“All of a sudden, it started getting noisy,” White recalled. “Tables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns. They were screaming, ‘Get down!’ I didn’t get down. It was f****** awesome.
“I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience. I was sitting right in front of the table — where the president was. Nobody got tackled, but guys came in looking for shooters. They came toward our table; I thought the shooter was over by us or something.”
This incident occurred just under two months before the UFC hosts UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn — an event that will be part of multiple events for the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring independence.
UFC Freedom 250 will be headlined by Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje battling to unify the UFC featherweight championship, and Alex Pereira taking on Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight championship.
Dana White has pushed back strongly against claims that the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card carries any political agenda, insisting the historic event is meant to celebrate the United States rather than promote any ideology.
The one-of-a-kind event is scheduled for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House, marking a centerpiece attraction for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Dana White Shuts Down Political Narrative Around UFC White House Card
Speaking during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the UFC CEO addressed the growing perception that the event is politically driven.
“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… this isn’t about politics,” White said.
“This is about the United States, what this country is about, how it was built, where we all came from.”
White also emphasized that the UFC is fully funding the event, shutting down any concerns about public spending.
“We’re paying the entire bill on all of this… Not one tax dollar will go into this. This is the UFC’s gift for the 250th birthday of America.”
Despite the political figures expected to be in attendance, including Trump himself, the UFC head honcho maintains that the setting does not change the purpose of the event.
“It has nothing to do with politics. We just happen to be on the White House lawn, and the President will be there.”
Stacked Fight Lineup Set For Historic Night In Washington
Beyond the controversy, UFC Freedom 250 is shaping up to be one of the most unique events in the promotion’s history. The card is expected to feature seven fights, headlined by a lightweight title unification bout, as reigning champion Ilia Topuria faces interim titleholder Justin Gaethje.
Meanwhile, the co-main event will include an interim heavyweight title clash between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
The event will take place inside a custom-built structure on the White House lawn, with the UFC investing heavily to ensure a unique viewing experience that incorporates the iconic backdrop.
Despite the previous announcement that there will be six fights for the UFC Freedom 250 card, a seventh has been added tonight after the UFC 327 performance of Josh Hokit.
In an announcement posted to social media during the event, UFC CEO and President Dana White announced that Hokit will compete on the UFC Freedom 250 card, taking on Derrick Lewis.
🚨 BREAKING:
DANA WHITE JUST ADDED DERRICK LEWIS VS JOSH HOKIT TO THE UFC WHITE HOUSE CARD!
Derrick Lewis vs. Josh Hokit Added To UFC Freedom 250 At White House
Hokit competed in just his third UFC bout during UFC 327, going toe-to-toe with Curtis Blaydes. The two put on a bloody heavyweight slugfest, with the two wobbling one another throughout. Hokit landed the more effective strikes and got the win via decision.
Hokit, a former NFL player, won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year. He then scored first-round finishes of Max Gimenis and Denzel Freeman in his first two UFC fights.
Lewis is 3-2 in his last five. He’ll enter this fight off a loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324.
With U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance at UFC 327 in Miami, the UFC released the first video promo for the UFC Freedom 250 event that takes place on June 14.
The promo included a first glance at the setup for how the UFC “arena” will look like on the White House lawn. The Octagon can be seen in the middle of the stage, surrounded by seats on all sides, under a pair of Americana-decorated arches.
The video has the arena appear to overtake a significant area of the White House front lawn.
UFC Release First Promo Video, Stage Look For UFC Freedom 250 At The White House
UFC Freedom 250 will be headlined by Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje battling to determine the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
The co-main event will see Alex Pereira move up to heavyweight to take on Ciryl Gane in an interim UFC heavyweight title fight. With a win, Pereira will become the first fighter in UFC history to claim UFC titles in three different weight divisions.
UFC Freedom 250 will consist of six fights and begin at 8pm ET/5pm PT on June 14, which is a Sunday. June 14 is Flag Day and the 80th birthday of President Trump. The event is being held as part of the celebrations for the Semiquincentennial of the United States.
UFC Freedom 250 will also feature Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia.
Dana White recently shot down speculation about a potential schedule change for the landmark UFC White House event, confirming it is still set for June 14, 2026.
In collaboration with the U.S. government, the UFC has announced a historic, unprecedented event set for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Dana White Fires Back At UFC White House Date Change Report
Controversy erupted after Puck News reported that the UFC had moved its planned June 14 White House event to June 26, a claim quickly echoed by several major MMA outlets and gaining traction online.
Within hours, Dana White responded on his Instagram Story, shutting down the speculation and confirming there had been no schedule change, with the event still targeted for Sunday, June 14.
In the same post, the UFC CEO blasted the reports, writing that the “media is so full of sh*t.”
🚨 Dana White says the UFC White House event is still taking place on Sunday, June 14th
While plans are still being discussed and yet to be revealed for the UFC White House event next summer, it sounds like U.S. President Donald Trump will not be the only VIP from the political world present.
Per a new report from Variety, which discusses the start of David Ellison’s time with Paramount, a pre-fight dinner is expected to be held by Trump and UFC CEO and President Dana White at some point in the lead up to the card.
The report notes that “dignitaries from around the world will attend a dinner and then head to the Octagon, the eight-sided ring where the main event will play out. Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are spearheading the telecast.”
The targeted date of the event is Sunday, June 14, 2026, to coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday. That date, however, is not set firm at this time.
Dinner With Dignitaries Expected As Part Of UFC White House Festivities
The UFC event on the White House lawn is to be a part of a series of events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
Trump first announced the plans for this card during a speech this past July 4th, with the UFC confirming plans to hold such a festivity. White has been adamant about this card going down as one of the biggest in the history of the promotion — promising several big names to be a part of the event.
Fighters such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones have put their names in the hat to potentially headline the card.
The event will reportedly have a limited in-person audience and is presumed to be one of the CBS-broadcasted cards as part of the new UFC-Paramount broadcasting deal that begins in 2026.
President Donald Trump announced during remarks at Naval Station Norfolk on October 5 that the highly anticipated UFC fight at the White House will take place on June 14, 2026, coinciding with his 80th birthday. The announcement provides the first official date for what was previously described as a July 4 event tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The 79-year-old president revealed the date while addressing Navy sailors during a ceremony marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. He made no mention that June 14 also marks his milestone birthday or that the date falls on Flag Day in the United States.
Donald Trump and the UFC White House Event
The event represents a significant departure from the original July 4, 2026 date that UFC President Dana White had indicated earlier this year. According to reports, the schedule change occurred because Trump’s calendar is heavily committed for Independence Day, when he plans to be in multiple states as part of the broader America 250 celebrations.
“On June 14 next year we’re gonna have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House.”
UFC officials have revealed substantial logistical challenges and costs associated with staging the event on the White House South Lawn. White disclosed that the organization will spend $700,000 just to replace the grass damaged by the 15,000-pound octagon and associated equipment. The grass replacement represents only one component of what White describes as “the most challenging event we have ever done.”
Security concerns have significantly reduced the planned attendance. While Trump initially suggested accommodating 20,000 to 25,000 spectators, White confirmed the actual capacity will be under 5,000 people due to Secret Service requirements. The limited attendance reflects the unprecedented security challenges of hosting a combat sports event at the nation’s most protected residence.
Fighter Participation Claims
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has publicly claimed he signed a contract to compete at the White House event, stating the deal is “done, signed, delivered.” McGregor, who has not fought since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, also claimed he negotiated directly with the U.S. government rather than through the UFC.
White disputed McGregor’s assertions during the post-fight press conference for UFC 320 on October 5. The UFC president clarified that no fight negotiations have begun and won’t start until February 2026. White acknowledged McGregor’s enthusiasm for participating but emphasized that nothing has been finalized.
America 250 Context
The UFC event forms part of the broader America 250 celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The semiquincentennial festivities will span the entire year 2026, with events planned in all 50 states culminating on July 4, 2026.
Trump has positioned the UFC fight as one of several major sporting events during his second term, alongside the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung previously characterized the event as potentially “one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history.”
Image: @WhiteHouse/X
Trump-White Relationship
The White House UFC event builds on a relationship between Trump and White spanning over two decades. Their partnership began in 2001 when Trump hosted UFC events at his Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City during a period when few venues would accommodate mixed martial arts. White has repeatedly credited Trump with supporting the UFC when the sport faced widespread rejection.
The arrangement reflects Trump’s continued involvement with combat sports and the UFC’s appeal among demographics important to his political base. Trump has attended multiple UFC events during his presidency, often receiving enthusiastic receptions from crowds.
Image: UFC.com
Event Specifications
Current plans call for an elaborate setup featuring a massive illuminated arch structure over the octagon, designed to provide unobstructed views of the White House for cameras and attendees. Fighter weigh-ins are scheduled to take place at the Lincoln Memorial, with fan events planned throughout Washington, D.C. during the week leading up to the fight.
For fans unable to secure tickets to the exclusive South Lawn event, the UFC plans to accommodate up to 85,000 people in a nearby park with large screens and concert stages. White described plans to “take over Washington, D.C. for that entire week” with various activities and events.
The June 14 date confirmation marks a significant milestone in what White promises will be “the greatest fight card ever assembled in the history of this company.” However, the actual fight card remains unannounced, with negotiations not expected to begin until February 2026.
Trump: "On June 14 next year we're gonna have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House." pic.twitter.com/RJIOKjIhx5
Ever since it was first brought into the wild, the idea of a UFC White House event has been debated, discussed, derided, and defended. Now, approximately 10 months before the 250th anniversary of the United States, UFC CEO and President Dana White claims plans for an event are now official.
White made the announcement during an Instagram Live stream on the evening of August 28, stating he had spent the day in Washington, D.C. trying to figure out details in regard to the event
🚨 Dana White says the UFC White House event is officially on 👀
"White House fight is ON. I will have more details on that in the next couple weeks. We got it done today."
“We had the meeting at the White House; could not have gone better,” White said. “This is going to be awesome. The White House fight is on. I will have more details on that in the next couple of weeks. But we got it done today.”
Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Go Following Meeting In Washington, D.C.
U.S. President Donald Trump first teased the idea about a card at the White House during Fourth of July festivities last month. He stated such an event as part of a big series of events to celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the U.S.
The UFC and White, in a series of interviews, would later indicate the plans were one of serious nature, with full intentions of a card to take place on the lawn of the White House on July 4, 2026.
White has previously claimed he intends to make the one of the “baddest” cards in UFC history at such an event, though he wouldn’t name any potential names or matchups due to the distance of time between now and the White House card.
Many fighters have expressed their desire to be selected for such an event, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2021 but has since returned to the UFC’s testing pool. Jones’ retirement lasted only two weeks due to the announcement; however, White has expressed trepidation and a lack of desire in placing Jones on the card.
It is believed many or all of the tickets for the White House card will be complimentary, and it is unclear if this event would be broadcast on Paramount+ exclusively or on linear CBS networks as well with the UFC’s new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount that begins in 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump has found himself in the MMA news headlines recently because of his announcement of a UFC card that will take place on the White House lawn next July 4. Congress is also in the headlines for the discussion and possible passing of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act.
But another piece of politics is about to swoop in and potentially affect professional bettors, according to Gianni “The Greek” Karalis, host of The Gambler’s Perspective and UFC On The Line.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a piece of legislation that focuses on tax and spending, as part of President Trump’s financial-related policies. This bill, however, can also come at a cost to gamblers.
The bill proposes that professional bettors could be taxed on gross winnings without being allowed to deduct their losses. In other words, even gamblers who finish with more losses than wins could still owe.
“It’s basically saying that it could force some bettors — key word there — some, to pay income tax even in years when they have net losses in gambling,” Karalis told James Lynch in a recent interview. “It could significantly hike the tax burden on professional sports bettors.”
Gianni The Greek: How Sports Gamblers, Including MMA Bettors, Are Affected By The One Big Beautiful Bill
Traditionally, professional gamblers could deduct losses from winnings when filing taxes, effectively being taxed based on net income. OBBBA threatens that by eliminating loss deductions. That’s the equivalent of taxing an investor for every winning trade while ignoring the losing ones.
Karalis explains this as “the problem,” as it defies a gambler’s accounting principles.
“You can no longer write off your losses against your wins like you used to before,” Karalis said. “I mean, the bottom line is this: you could lose money and still have to pay taxes as if you were profitable. That’s the negative of this.”
Karalis does say, however, that most bettors will not be affected, as this portion of the bill targets professional bettors, rather than recreational ones. According to Karalis, only about 0.5 percent of bettors can be considered profitable and will be the most affected.
“99.5 percent of sports bettors have negative lifetime earnings,” Karalis said. “Who this is going to affect is that half a percent that truly makes their living in betting sports.”
There are two possible motives for this governmental action, according to Karalis. The first is a form of government money grab, similar to when states actively passed recreational marijuana laws in order to gain the tax revenue. The U.S. federal government may see sports betting — as an untapped goldmine, and it wants a bigger piece of the pie.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) previously barred sports betting in most states. When the Supreme Court ruled the act unconstitutional in May 2018, states were allowed to decide on its legalization.
Karalis’ other theory is that sportsbooks themselves may have lobbied for this part of OBBBA. While winning bettors may represent a tiny fraction of users, they may present a major threat to profit margins. In other words, severely hampering these winning bettors protects the bottom line. By making the environment toxic for sharps, they encourage a casual betting pool dominated by losing wagers.
Karalis compared this to a shift that was seen in casinos when blackjack payouts went from 3-to-2 to 6-to-5 as part of their efforts to stop card counters.
“To most tourists, the most recreational bettors, they don’t see the difference,” Karalis explained. “They don’t know the difference between blackjack paying three-to-two or six-to-five. But for a card counter, that simple rule made the game unbeatable. So someone like myself that’s an advantaged blackjack player, if I see a table that says six-to-five blackjack, I can’t beat that game no more. The edge has changed.”
Three groups are most at risk with the bill’s passage, according to Karalis. One, as mentioned, are those professional sports bettors whose success relies on those onscreen, regulated sportsbooks who report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including FanDuel and DraftKings.
The second group are the scalpers and middlers, including younger bettors, who depend on quick, narrow-margin trades across multiple books. Karalis stated that “It may even shut down a lot of those shops…because the margins are small…you got to question now: Is this endeavor still worth it?”
Lastly are the handicappers who work solo or in small groups, without access to “off-screen” credit-based betting systems.
Those offshore books and underground markets can offer one potential workaround, according to Karalis. They, however, do not come without great risk and aren’t available to all bettors. While off-screen books, often offshore and illegal, are preferred by pros for tax and liquidity reasons, high-stakes bettors would need millions tied up in regulated accounts that earn no interest. This, according to Karalis, would make on-screen betting financially inefficient.
“There’s not very many people worth seven figures who are willing to leave that money sitting in a sportsbook account getting zero return,” he said. “You could put it in Coinbase and get four percent.”
Though most in the sports gambling world felt negative reaction in the industry to the OBBBA was an overreaction, concern among full-time bettors is growing. As the new tax reality sets in, some professional gamblers are considering a re-evaluation of their systems and the potential end of their careers, especially if they rely on razor-thin profits.
Karalis says this may even stretch to content creators and side hustlers, including the previously-mentioned scalpers. He adds there are also questions around how bad this will impact younger and newer pros.
“They’re definitely being forced to reorganize their business model,” Karalis said. “I would not be surprised if a handful do realize maybe it’s not as profitable — and move that capital elsewhere with less risk.”
When describing how he personally is affected, Karalis says that since 90 percent of his betting is off-screen, he isn’t as affected as other professionals. OBBBA, however, may affect his side hustle due to regulated betting use; it would force him to use the regulated sportsbooks.
Karalis says that he sees no upsides in OBBBA for sharp bettors and that the bill could shift the landscape by making professional sports betting less viable in the U.S. He implies it could lead to brain drain or push more betting activity to offshore books.
“Talking to serious guys out here in Vegas, even professional poker players, let alone sports bettors, who are like, ‘Dude, I don’t know if I can continue doing this the way I’ve been doing it and be profitable anymore,’” Karalis said.
OBBBA could usher in a new era where the house edge isn’t just built into the odds — it’s written into law.
The most‐listened podcast host in the United States, Joe Rogan, has turned sustained attention to the Donald Trump administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related records. In a recent conversation with former CIA operations officer Mike Baker, Rogan challenged official explanations for Epstein’s 2019 jail death, questioned gaps in newly released surveillance footage, and criticized what he called a pattern of “messaging failures” inside the White House and Donal Trump administration.
Joe Rogan Critisizes Donald Trump’s Handling of Jeffrey Epstein
Rogan’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” averages 11 million listeners per episode on Spotify and reaches millions more through YouTube clip channels and syndicated news coverage. His audience overlaps significantly with the populist‐leaning faction of the president’s voter base, making his statements crucial signals of grassroots discontent.
During episode #2354, Rogan began by calling the entire Epstein case “so crazy” because official sources now insist that “there’s no tapes, there’s no video” despite years of references to large caches of recorded material. He reminded listeners that forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden reported Epstein had “three broken bones in his neck, which never happens when you hang yourself,” a detail Rogan believes undermines the government’s suicide finding.
Joe Rogan focused on the surveillance clip released by the Department of Justice on July 5. “They said they have a film… but the film has a [expletive] minute missing from it. Like, do you think we’re babies? What is this?” he asked. Independent forensic analysis published by WIRED later confirmed that nearly three minutes of source footage had been trimmed before release, raising additional questions about the gap. Attorney General Pam Bondi has attributed the jump to a nightly system reset of the jail’s aging recorder, but experts told CBS this explanation is atypical for modern security systems.
Ghislaine Maxwell Interview Questions
Rogan also zeroed in on the DOJ’s decision to interview Ghislaine Maxwell six years after her 2019 arrest. “Nobody from DOJ has ever, according to her legal team, interviewed Gileain Maxwell. This is the first time the DOJ is talking to her, even though she is serving 20 years for sex trafficking,” he said, paraphrasing her attorneys’ complaints. NBC News confirmed that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche personally led two days of closed‐door sessions with Maxwell in late July, an unusual step for a senior official. Commentators have noted it is rare for a deputy attorney general to conduct witness interviews directly.
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, has intensified her legal efforts in July 2025. On July 28, her attorneys filed a brief with the Supreme Court arguing that a 2007 non-prosecution agreement with Epstein should have protected her from prosecution. The filing came just three days after Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for what her attorney described as “a very productive day.”
Maxwell’s legal team directly appealed to Trump for clemency, with attorney David Oscar Markus stating: “We are appealing not only to the Supreme Court but to the president himself to recognize how profoundly unjust it is to scapegoat Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s crimes.”
Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out pardoning Maxwell, stating on July 28: “Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it. Nobody’s asked me about it”. This has drawn criticism from Epstein survivors and some Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who expressed “great pause” about the possibility.
Baker’s Intelligence‐Community Lens
Baker, who spent decades running covert operations, added that Epstein’s properties were likely wired with “pinhole cameras all over; you’d have to gut the walls to remove them,” making it implausible that no incriminating video exists. “The idea that there wasn’t some kind of intelligence agency involved or watching is naive,” he said, arguing that both U.S. and foreign services exploit blackmail when recruiting assets. He cited Russia’s “shotgun approach” of gathering compromising material as a parallel.
Rogan and Baker flagged payments uncovered in earlier Senate inquiries, including Apollo Global co-founder Leon Black’s $158 million in consulting fees to Epstein between 2012 and 2017. Baker called the sums “operationally interesting,” while Rogan suggested they pointed to a sophisticated leverage network rather than legitimate tax advice. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden continues to pursue Black for documentation on those transfers.
Political Fallout for the Trump Administration
Rogan’s criticism carries added weight because he endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 campaign and regularly hosts Trump‐aligned guests. He told listeners that the unresolved questions mark a “line in the sand” for supporters who expected full disclosure. Media outlets from CNN to Yahoo News have highlighted Rogan’s shift as evidence that the Epstein controversy is fracturing parts of the president’s right‐leaning coalition. Joe Rogan was personally thanked during Donald Trumps election victory.
The Epstein files controversy represents the first significant fracture in Trump’s MAGA coalition, with supporters who backed him based on anti-establishment and “drain the swamp” messaging feeling betrayed. The crisis has created an unusual situation where Trump cannot use his typical deflection tactics effectively, as the demands for transparency come from his own base rather than political opponents.
The controversy continues to dominate headlines and has followed Trump internationally, with protesters in Ohio holding “JD Protects Pedophiles” signs during Vice President Vance’s appearances. Despite the mounting pressure, Trump has maintained that the Epstein story is a “hoax” while simultaneously suing media outlets and refusing to definitively rule out a Maxwell pardon.
In July 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had contributed to a compilation of birthday letters for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, which allegedly included a drawing of a nude woman and the message “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”. Trump vehemently denied writing the letter, calling it “fake,” and filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the newspaper and owner Rupert Murdoch.
Trump explained his break with Epstein differently than previous accounts, claiming on July 28 that he ended the friendship because Epstein “stole people that worked for me” rather than the previous explanation that he kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep.”
Messaging Missteps
The host faulted the White House for what he called a self-inflicted credibility problem: “If you think you can get away with saying ‘there’s nothing to see here’ after all the hype, you should be fired. The ability to have a self-inflicted wound because of messaging is a hallmark of the Trump administration,” Rogan said. Baker agreed, noting that administration surrogates spent years promising “explosive” evidence only to release a two-page memo stating the case is closed.
Bondi contends the July 8 memo and video were intended to settle speculation. She has reiterated that the DOJ found “no incriminating client list” after reviewing investigative files. On the missing-minute issue, she told reporters the same gap appears in each night’s recording because of an equipment reset. CBS forensic analysts, however, say metadata proves the DOJ video was edited and not truly raw.
The House Oversight Subcommittee has subpoenaed Maxwell to testify remotely on August 11, though her credibility and willingness to answer questions remain uncertain. Meanwhile, legal experts predict continued litigation over public access to grand-jury transcripts and sealed exhibits, even though multiple federal judges have ruled against unsealing them.
Joe Rogan’s ongoing interest ensures the Epstein narrative will persist in conservative media circles, keeping pressure on the administration to clarify inconsistencies.
The saga of Jon Jones’ retirement and unretirement decision has been one that stretched back to when it was debated if he’d retire after facing Stipe Miocic — and it’s ongoing in the wake of his decision to unretire just two weeks after doing so and giving up the UFC heavyweight championship.
And now, Jones has publicly given an explanation for his decision to both retire and unretire quickly.
Jones was present at ESPN’s ESPY Awards show on July 16 and appeared on the red carpet. It was at the event’s Red Carpet show where Jones gave an interview, allowing him to give insight on his decision.
“I felt like I was at a place where I’ve done it all in the MMA space and felt like there wasn’t too many more challenges for me,” Jones told ESPN. “I just wanted to do something more than championships and money — and Donald Trump mentioned that he wanted to have a fight at the White House Garden, and that just seems like such a huge opportunity.”
Jon Jones Confirms His Intention To Compete On UFC White House Card
Following Trump’s announcement of a UFC White House card, UFC officials would confirm the plan was being explored. In the days since, UFC CEO and President Dana White has confirmed such plans are in motion. White has promised to bring the “baddest” and most anticipated UFC pay-per-view card ever next July 4.
While logistics for the event still have to be worked out, White has mentioned that he sees a long-overdue fight between Jones and Aspinall as a “dream main event” for the card.
Conor McGregor has also thrown his name in the hat for the White House UFC event, and White has stated he would get both a Jones fight and McGregor fight on this kind of card.
“I’m a very proud American,” Jones said. “I have a lot of close friends that are in the military, and this is my act of — I can’t call it service — but just to be able to entertain the country and the world at this level at the White House. It just means the world to me. So I’m back.”
Jones became UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 285 by defeating Ciryl Gane for the then-vacant title, and he retained the championship against Miocic at UFC 309. Jones and Miocic were scheduled to face off originally at UFC 295 before Jones suffered a torn pec. Instead, Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title at that event — and then retained the interim gold against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Negotiations between Jones and Aspinall had been ongoing and seemed to be near completion until Jones’ retirement announcement. Aspinall was then named the new UFC heavyweight champion at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference last month.
When the idea of a UFC event at the White House was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, and later confirmed by UFC officials to media, fighters scrambled to get their name into the hat of potentially competing at such an event.
One of those fighters was Jon Jones, who two weeks earlier had just announced his retirement from the sport of MMA, relinquishing the UFC heavyweight title in the process. This brought about an unclimactic ending to the long standoff of negotiations between he and then-interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who was promoted to undisputed champion immediately as Jones’ retirement was announced by UFC CEO and President Dana White.
Now, during his recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, White confirmed that despite the retirement announcement, Jones is already back.
“He jumped back in the pool,” White confirmed.
Dana White Says Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Would Be ‘Dream’ White House Main Event, Suggests Jones And Conor McGregor Could Both Fight On Card
Jones vs. Aspinall is one of the fresher matchups available for heavyweight — a UFC division most fans and pundits have widely agreed is one of the weakest, if not the weakest, in the promotion. And while Aspinall vs. Gane is also a fresh matchup, most of the other ranked contenders Aspinall has taken out in the first round in previous outings.
It seems White agrees that Jones vs. Aspinall is still a possibility — even going as far as to say he could see it being a main event for the White House event.
“My dream main event right now [for the White House card], would be Aspinall vs. Jones,” White said.
UFC officials have previously told reporters of the seriousness of plans to hold a card at the White House — first teased last week by United States President Donald Trump — during the Semiquincentennial celebrations for the U.S. next year.
Now, the UFC boss is doubling down on those plans.
UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed in a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast that he and his team have already begun to look at the logistics on how they can make such a card work and make it one of the biggest the UFC has ever produced.
“We’re still a year away, so the whole UFC landscape will change over the next year,” White said. But, we will absolutely, positively put on the baddest card of all time. This is going to be an exceptional pay-per-view card.”
Dana White Promises Major Pay-Per-View Card For White House Event In July 2026
Trump’s announcement brought about several fighters publicly stating their desires to compete on such a card, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones — with Jones even unretiring in his very next social media post.
This has brought about questions amongst fans and pundits alike about the aspects for a UFC at the White House. These have included what would be an appropriate main event (and would it be worth sacrificing gate opposed to placing that fight elsewhere), what potential fighters (American or otherwise) could be on the card, if the card would be a pay-per-view or on free TV (or Netflix), how 2026 International Fight Week plans would be affected, and how 25,000 people can fit on the White House grounds.
White’s conversation has brought about some answers. Firstly, as noted, White suggested the card would be a pay-per-view — though as of July 10, it’s still unclear who the UFC’s U.S. broadcaster, or broadcasters, will be for 2026 and beyond.
White added that all tickets for the White House card would be compensatory — none for the public.
“First of all, I don’t know how many people will get in, not to mention that the Secret Service won’t let many people attend. Everyone will need background checks,” White said. “Whoever gets to be there live will have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. While we’re filming, one side of the backdrop will be the White House and the other will be the Washington Monument.
“I don’t think we’re going to sell tickets; it will all be comp tickets.”
White added that even though the plans for such a noteworthy, unique event are in motion, he wasn’t aware Trump was going to announce anything when he did. He even added Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, has been placed in charge of collaborating with White and the UFC production team for the event.
“That day, we probably texted four or five times that day, and he never told me he was going to announce it. My team already went and walked the White House, we did all the logistics, and we’re putting together the layout for it right now, and will probably pitch it to him in a week or two.”
The biggest talking point in the MMA world at the moment is not one that involves a particular fighter, but one that involves the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and the potential of something historic that 30 years ago would have been a crazy pipedream.
The U.S.’ Fourth of July celebrations this year marked the beginning of a year-long celebratory series of events that will lead to the country’s Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaring its independence from Great Britain.
During one of this year’s U.S. Independence Day events, Trump hyped up a vision of what he sees for next year’s grand celebration on July 4, 2026 (a Saturday). And Trump mentioned a UFC “fight” occuring on the lawn of the White House.
Turns out, this isn’t just hearsay, as the UFC would confirm to reporters that while nothing is set in stone, plans are indeed in motion for a July 4, 2026 card to be held in the nation’s capital.
Hours later, the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones each posted to social media about interest in fighting on the card. This comes when McGregor hasn’t fought in the Octagon since 2021 and Jones announced a comeback after retiring and relinquishing the UFC heavyweight championship just two weeks earlier.
With MMA insider and personality Ariel Helwani and his crew — Petersy Carroll, Conner Burks, and Eric Jackman — back in the studio earlier this week, the group discussed what such an event could mean, if such an event is possible, and why fighters are scrambling to be a part of the card.
Is A UFC Card At The White House A Realistic Possibility? Who Would Be Part Of It?
Helwani and the others weren’t in complete agreement on if the card actually happens; however, they were in agreement about the significance of such a card — and perhaps why fighters want in on this. A UFC event on White House grounds would mark one of, if not the, most visible and mainstream moments for the sport of MMA in its history.
“It’d be the biggest spot MMA has ever been in, wouldn’t it?” said Petesy Carroll. “Could you imagine what that would look like in terms of a spectacle? Like we talked about the spectacle of the Sphere and stuff. Like, could you imagine that? The White House in the background with the Octagon.”
In fact, as Helwani mentions, MMA was targeted by American politicians and banned in most states 30 years ago. An event in the capital of the United States, on one of the country’s most prominent landmarks, underscores just how far the UFC has come.
“Ten years ago, it was still banned in New York,” Helwani said. “And to think that 10 years later — actually, the symbolism of [Trump] being elected the same week as the first show at MSG, 10 years later, an actual event at the White House — is pretty insane.”
That said, question arose as to the logistics of putting on such a card. President Trump said he sees 25,000+ people on the White House grounds, with Helwani and company being very skeptical of such a sight with proper maximum security measures put in place.
Scheduling also came into question, as while July 4, 2026, is a Saturday, it would put the event one week after the recent running dates of the UFC’s International Fight Week event (the last weekend of June). While some proposed the idea of moving International Fight Week to DC (which would be a whole other headache in itself) or re-scheduling International Fight Week, Helwani feels it’s doable to keep the week where it is and make what he would consider the most anticipated two-week period for the UFC.
On that note, it brings up the question of what kind of an event a UFC White House card would be — a traditional pay-per-view, a prominent Fight Night card (on either Netflix or ABC, depending on if Netflix and/or ESPN get the UFC’s US TV rights for 2026 and beyond), or a small but meaningful card similar to what the UFC had went it first joined up with FOX in 2011.
What Fighters Would Be Involved On A UFC White House Card?
As mentioned, McGregor and Jones are the two most prominent names who volunteered for a card. And Carroll mentioned that despite circumstances and controversies surrounding both men, it’s not surprising that both have raised their hand — and that the two would be in consideration for such a unique event.
“It doesn’t surprise me that likes Jones and Connor are suddenly interested in in being there,” Carroll said. “I mean, Connor had a massive PR pop when he arrived in the White House on St. Patrick’s Day — and [that] kind of became the catalyst for this political career he’s embarking on. So, I mean it would be a huge, huge deal.”
While Carroll is more than skeptical of the idea, the Boys in the Back (Burks and Jackman) add that McGregor would bring a fitting boost to such a unique event, and that it would be a “perfect” time for him to fight Chandler — a fight that has been anticipated since 2023 before ultimately getting canceled in 2024.
As far as Jones goes if there is one fight to make, Carroll feels there’s “one f****** fight to make” despite the Jones-Aspinall negotiations falling through officially with Jones’ brief retirement stint, which promoted Aspinall to undisputed champion.
Debates went through the group, however, about if one of them should headline given their baggage, as well as McGregor not being an American (though Chandler is). It also sparks debate about what fighters (with Bo Nickal and Sean Strickland’s names thrown out there) could be on the card — and if the fighter selections would be based on name value, lack of controversy, etc. This also comes at a time where Kayla Harrison is the sole American champion in the UFC.
A question was brought up additionally about if the UFC would be willing to sacrifice a high-revenue making fight like a Jones vs. Aspinall or McGregor vs. Chandler for the sake of the press they’d get for such a unique, historical, and political event.
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on Donald Trump’s recently announced plan to hold a UFC event at the White House.
As we know, Donald Trump is pretty close with UFC president Dana White – to the point where he gets his own entrance whenever he decides to show up to a big event. More often than not, Daniel Cormier is on commentary, and he’s been known to not hold his tongue over the years.
Of course, he’s a company man, but Daniel Cormier is also practical. If you don’t believe us, check out his comments regarding the UFC potentially hosting an event at the White House, which was ‘announced’ recently by Donald Trump.
Daniel Cormier’s view on UFC White House show
“When he said, ‘We’re gonna do a UFC event at the White House,’ I was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s exciting.’ Then I started to think…
“For him to just come to a fight, all the hoops that we go through as people that work for the company (UFC), right? The Secret Service is in the arena the day before. We all have to do so many other things — background checks and all these things — because the president’s going to be there.
“Imagine trying to put 25,000 at the White House. They’re gonna go through all those steps for all those people?” Cormier added. “I think we as a country can do whatever we want…(but) I don’t know that the effort it will take to make that happen is going to be worth the squeeze.
“And it’s gonna be outside? In July? It gets hot in Washington in July!”
In what would be an insane plot twist to recent UFC events, former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones — just two weeks after announcing his official retirement from MMA — has announced he is coming out of retirement and re-entering the UFC’s drug testing pool.
Jones announced the move himself on social media, stating “figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.”
Just re-entered the testing pool, that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.
It appears the recent news of U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to have a UFC card on the grounds of the White House next Fourth of July weekend — as part of the nation’s events to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday — may have hooked in Jones as well, based on a different social media post about 20 minutes prior.
Conor McGregor previously posted to social media earlier in the day, teasing that such an event could be what brings him out of his long UFC hiatus, and perhaps finally to take on Michael Chandler.
Jon Jones Announcing Reversal On Retirement Decision?
This news comes on the heels of Jones announcing his retirement recently in what many thought marked the end of a long, drawn-out saga of fight negotiations between him and new undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
There is a dispute over whether or not a fight between the two was nearly official prior to Jones’ retirement. Jones has claimed that a fight was never signed; meanwhile, UFC President Dana White claimed the fight had been signed and was to be announced — only for Jones to change his mind and retire, citing a lack of interest in competing. Jones made those remarks on a podcast appearance. MMA insider Ariel Helwani, meanwhile, claims White’s side to the story is the true sequence of events.
After dominating the UFC’s light heavyweight scene throughout the 2010s, Jones relinquished the light heavyweight title in 2020 and took a three-year hiatus, coming back at UFC 285 to defeat Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title.
He was scheduled to defend the title at UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic, but the fight was delayed one year after Jones tore his pec. The UFC elected not to strip Jones, with Aspinall winning the interim title at the card and making a rare defense of an interim belt, defeating Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Jones went on to defeat Miocic at UFC 309.
Jones has dealt with plenty of legal troubles over the years as well, and just hours after retiring, a report came out accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident this past February. Police alleged that, when speaking with Jones — after finding a woman naked from the waist down in a vehicle allegedly driven by Jones — Jones implied “his capacity to employ lethal force through third parties.”
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring independence from Great Britain. That particular date also falls on a Saturday, and while the UFC typically takes off for American Independence Day weekend, could a chance to be involved in Washington D.C.’s events alongside U.S. President Donald Trump cause a one-time change?
It could be if Trump has his way. And perhaps that kind of event would be enough to draw a matchup, once thought to be dead in the water, involving MMA’s biggest star ever back to life.
During an event on Thursday (July 3), Trump, at an event that marked a year-long celebration leading to the U.S.’ semiquincentennial, teased the idea of having a UFC event on the grounds of the White House, the residency of the U.S. President, during next year’s Independence Day events.
“So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250,” Trump said. “And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight. “Think of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there.”
According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson from the White House had no official details for such an event. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, claims the U.S. President is “dead serious” about it.
Other logistics would also have to be worked out. The UFC has typically used the last weekend in June or the first or second weekend of July for it’s annual International Fight Week celebrations in Las Vegas.
Trump and UFC President Dana White have enjoyed a long-standing friendship. The Trump Taj Mahal (now the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) in Atlantic City, New Jersey, hosted a pair of UFC events in 2001 as Zuffa, the then-recent new owners of UFC, were getting their feet under them at the same time the UFC was working alongside athletic commissions to get professional MMA sanctioned.
Since his first election to the presidency, Trump has been a key figure at several UFC events, most recently appearing at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, last month.
Could Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler Headline A Proposed UFC Event At The White House?
Hours after Trump made the tease, Conor McGregor took to social media, announcing his desire to end his long layoff from the cage to compete in the main event of the White House’s UFC card. McGregor even posted an Instagram message to White, with White saying he “loves” the idea.
Happy 4th of July, USA. 🇺🇸
Excited with President Trump announcing a UFC fight event at the White House.
McGregor has not been seen in the Octagon since losing his UFC 264 trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier due to injury.
Hours after his initial posts, McGregor made another social media post, showing what appears to be an AI-rendered image of him and Michael Chandler facing off in suits on the White House, with President Trump smiling in the background.
Neither Chandler nor the UFC have made an official statement on the White House event, let alone the potential McGregor vs. Chandler could headline such a card.
McGregor and Chandler were initially scheduled to fight after the two coached season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. As time went on, no fight announcement happened, however, until White announced at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference that McGregor and Chandler would face off at UFC 303 — during 2024’s International Fight Week.
The month of UFC 303, however, a press conference scheduled for Dublin was suddenly canceled at the eleventh hour, and the fight ended up dissolving. The official claim is a toe injury to McGregor, but some have speculated a contract dispute between McGregor and the UFC.
McGregor, also a part-owner of BKFC, has two fights remaining on his current UFC deal, and some have speculated the UFC want McGregor to sign another deal and lock him up.
McGregor, of course, has also dealt with his long list of controversies outside the cage, including a jury’s ruling last November implicating him in the alleged December 2018 sexual assault of a woman, Nikita Hand, in a Dublin hotel. Additionally, a video surfaced weeks ago of McGregor punching a man at a nightclub in Ibiza.
Conor McGregor made a notable appearance at the White House in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
On Monday, McGregor, along with his partner Dee Devlin and their four children, was called upon by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, at the Oval Office in Washington, D.C.. He also had a meeting with X CEO Elon Musk and other prominent officials.
Fans had a mixed reaction to Conor McGregor’s unexpected visit to the White House to meet Trump, with many referencing “The Notorious” in various creative ways.
Conor McGregor’s visit to Washington, paired with his outspoken stance on Ireland’s immigration policies, did not go without controversy, as it sparked backlash from the country’s leadership.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin strongly rebuked his statements, while Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris was quick to clarify that the 36-year-old UFC star was not in the White House as a representative of Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.
Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.
“The Notorious” has been out of action since suffering a brutal leg fracture in his trilogy bout against longtime rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
After years on the sidelines, McGregor was finally set to make his highly anticipated return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, following their stint as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 in 2023.
However, just two weeks before fight night, the Irishman withdrew due to a broken toe, leaving fans uncertain about if or when he will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
Conor McGregor is set to visit the Oval Office today for a high-profile meeting with Donald Trump.
On Monday, the former UFC two-division champion made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, where he was introduced by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who announced that he would be meeting with the President of the United States and other key administration officials as part of his St. Patrick’s Day visit to Washington, D.C.
“The Notorious” also briefed reporters and stated that his visit to Washington is “to raise the issues the people of Ireland face.”
“Ireland and America, we are siblings. We consider America our big sibling, Conor McGregor said. “So it’s important for Ireland to be a peaceful, prosperous country for 40 million Irish Americans to have a place to visit, [to] come back to their home. So we wish for our relationship with the United States to continue, and we wish to be taken care of by the big bro. The United States should look after its little bro. And that’s how we feel.”
McGregor and Trump share a strong mutual admiration, a connection underscored when the 47th U.S. president personally invited the UFC superstar to his inauguration ceremony in January after being re-elected this past November.
Last week, during a bilateral meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, Trump praised Conor McGregor, admiring his tattoos, fighting style, and larger-than-life presence. He attributed the 36-year-old Irishman’s success to the toughness of the Irish people.
🇮🇪 ☘️ Donal Trump says he's a big fan of Conor McGregor:
"I do happen to like your fighter. He's got the best tattoos I've ever seen. Conor's great… Ireland's always had a lot of good fighters—you know why, because they're tough people."
McGregor is also embroiled in another civil lawsuit, with an anonymous woman accusing him of sexual assault during the Heat vs. Celtics NBA Finals game in June 2023.
A noteworthy UFC name has already volunteered to be a part of a potential relationship between the MMA organization and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with Michael Chandler raising his hand.
The development of a relationship between the U.S. government agency and the UFC would correlate alongside the friendship between US President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White.
UFC 30 and UFC 31, both held during the first half of 2001, were the first UFC events held under Zuffa ownership – which included the introduction of White as then-UFC president. Both events took place at the then Trump Taj Mahal (now Boardwalk Hall) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
White has openly discussed how Trump’s venue helped pave a road to success for the UFC as Zuffa took the organization from the brink of folding to the worldwide juggernaut it is today. White has since re-paid the favor as Trump’s friend and one of his biggest supporters in his time in American politics.
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become the 45th U.S. President in November 2016 before losing to Joe Biden four years later. This past November, Trump defeated Kamala Harris to regain the U.S. presidency, becoming the second American president with two separate terms in office.
Chandler, meanwhile, will return to the Octagon on April 12 at UFC 314, taking on Paddy Pimblett in the card’s five-round co-main event.
A number of UFC fighters were vocal on social media across last night and this morning, as Donald Trump emerged victorious from the 2024 US presidential election.
Republican Trump will return to the White House after defeating Democrat opponent Kamala Harris. His victory was confirmed after he surpassed 270 electoral college votes, and he looks set to collect all seven swing states.
While polls were predicting a tight contest, Trump comfortably beat Harris after taking a firm lead in the national poplar vote. He’ll now mark the oldest man elected to the United States’ highest office.
Despite becoming the first former president to be convicted of a criminal offense, Trump — whose first term concluded in controversy after his supporters stormed the Capitol in protest of Biden’s 2020 win — has had plenty of prominent supporters, especially in the fight game.
In addition to his friendship with UFC CEO Dana White, a number of fighters have voiced their support for the 45th and soon-to-be 47th US president. That trend largely continued on social media during election night and in the aftermath of Trump’s win being confirmed.
Historical time for the USA Today! I’m leaning towards Trump in hopes of a better economy for all social classes, ending of these horrible wars we’re funding and involved in, and a better handling on mass immigration and vetting visitors. Whoever wins, I’m hopeful of a peaceful…
Agree! He is an animal. Would love to see the comparison of how many more appearances, interviews and rallies trump had vs Kamala. https://t.co/YTlCfSdszu
