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Donald Trump wants his 80th birthday to be memorable, and to achieve this, he has decided to combine entertainment, combat, and patriotic symbolism: he will organize a UFC event in the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026.
The date coincides with Flag Day in the United States, but it also marks the day when Trump will turn eighty, right in the midst of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding.
The revelation was made by the president himself during a speech delivered at the Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia, where he was participating in an official ceremony honoring the U.S. Navy.
In an enthusiastic tone and with references to other major events on the national calendar—such as the anniversary of independence, the 2026 World Cup, and the 2028 Olympic Games—Trump made the announcement:
"And on June 14 of next year, we're going to have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on its grounds.", he said.
Although he didn't explicitly mention that it is his birthday, the coincidence seems carefully planned and reflects the political style of the leader: breaking protocols, appealing to his base with populist gestures, and capitalizing on media events to project power.
An old connection with the UFC
The relationship between Trump and the world of mixed martial arts is not new.
Since the early 2000s, when the Ultimate Fighting Championship was still considered a fringe sport and faced challenges in securing venues in the United States, Trump opened the doors of his casino Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
That decision earned him the gratitude of the then-nascent president of the UFC, Dana White, who over the years would become a staunch political ally of the Republican magnate.
Dana White has not only been a vocal supporter of Trump in multiple campaigns, but he has also accompanied the president to various events and has financially contributed to his political ambitions.
The rapport between the two was maintained throughout the presidency, and since his return to power in 2024, the connection has intensified. Trump has been seen regularly at UFC events, including a recent one in New Jersey in June.
"This will be one of the largest and most historic sporting events in history," declared Steven Cheung, spokesman for the Trump campaign, to the Wall Street Journal.
"The fact that President Trump is organizing it at the White House is a testament to his vision of celebrating the monumental 250th anniversary of the United States."
The cage in the south garden
The idea of bringing an octagonal combat cage to the heart of the presidential residence initially seemed like a rhetorical exaggeration or a symbolic provocation.
But in July 2025, Trump officially announced that the UFC would hold an event in the gardens of the White House in 2026. The exact date was missing, which has now finally been confirmed.
The logistical details are underway. Dana White has revealed that the event will be planned starting in February and is shaping up to be the best card in the company's history.
According to reports from The Hill, the event will feature fireworks, a light show, and fan activities throughout the National Mall. The weigh-in for the fighters will take place at none other than the Lincoln Memorial, another gesture rich in symbolism.
The investment will also be significant. The UFC has already confirmed that it will need to pay $700,000 to restore the grass in the south lawn of the White House after the event, as White mentioned to the Sports Business Journal.
Will McGregor be on the card?
One of the names that has generated the most attention is that of Irish fighter Conor McGregor. Retired since 2021 after a loss to Dustin Poirier, McGregor has publicly declared his intention to participate in the presidential event.
“Deal closed, signed, delivered, it’s not a negotiation,” he recently told Sean Hannity on Fox News.
However, his participation is still in doubt. Dana White has clarified that, while McGregor has shown great enthusiasm, “nothing is decided yet and no fight is being negotiated with the White House.”
The potential inclusion of the Irishman would be controversial: he was found guilty in a civil court in Ireland for sexual assault, a background that could further intensify the already scandalous blend of politics and show business represented by the event.
Why the UFC?
The UFC event at the White House is not just a birthday party. It is a carefully designed operation intended to resonate with a key electoral base for Trump: young men who are fans of contact sports, a demographic that the president has actively pursued.
Since his beginnings in politics, Trump has understood the value of spectacle as a tool for power. It is no surprise that he has chosen a visceral, televised, and polarizing sport like the UFC to commemorate its 80th anniversary while simultaneously inserting his figure into the context of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States.
The bet is bold, but it is not the first time that Trump has sought to dazzle the country with high-budget patriotic celebrations.
His previous birthday party, in 2024, coincided with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and was celebrated with a military parade that cost around 45 million dollars.
Although it was promoted as a “tremendous success” by the White House, it was plagued by logistical problems and mass protests under the slogan “No Kings”.
According to biographer Michael Wolff, Trump was furious with the "festive" tone of the parade, which he believed should have been a "show of threatening strength," and he blamed then-Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for its execution.
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