UFC confirms Trump tease of 2026 White House fight; Conor McGregor says ‘count me in!’

America’s semiquincentennial celebration could expect an octagon on White House grounds after the UFC confirmed President Donald Trump’s promise.

Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, the president kicked off a countdown to the 250th birthday celebration of United States independence with a preview of some of the initiatives planned to mark the one-of-a-kind occasion. On top of the already announced Great American State Fair and The Patriot Games, Trump announced the UFC would be hosting a fight night at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” said the president as he expected the event to be a championship fight with a crowd between 20,000 and 25,000 people. “We’re gonna have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there.”

#BREAKING: President Donald Trump has announced that there will be a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House as a part of the America 250 celebration. pic.twitter.com/oI6WTNveSm

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 4, 2025

THE UFC IS HEADING TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Donald Trump has announced that the White House will host a UFC event with 25,000 people in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence pic.twitter.com/lZxSjYAF94

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 4, 2025

While UFC president Dana White hadn’t commented on the announcement, instead sharing Trump’s remarks about plans for The Patriot Games hosting high school students from all over the nation set to be led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a spokesperson for the UFC had told NBC News that details of the event would be released “in due time.”

Naturally, those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome immediately bristled at the idea that the White House would host one of the country’s most popular sporting events on the same sacred ground where gender ideologues had paraded topless under the previous administration, suggesting America had reached the bread and circuses stage of decline.

In the twilight of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum was not just a venue for gladiatorial combat; it was a symbol of a society that had lost its way, where bread and circuses distracted from the crumbling foundations of governance. Today, as we witness the proposal of a UFC fight…

— Siegien (@margaretsiegien) July 4, 2025

What is he Ceaser now? Bring in the Gladiators? What a joke

— Tracey Gallagher (@asmartbrunette1) July 4, 2025

Oh wow, both trashy and vulgar. The founding fathers would be so charmed.

— Meaghan O’Malley (@meaghano9) July 4, 2025

Meanwhile, fans of the sport and the president were wildly enthused about the prospect, including former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Having visited the president in the Oval Office earlier in the year, and was himself running for president in his home country of Ireland, McGregor lauded the idea on social media.

“Happy 4th of July, USA … Excited with President Trump announcing a UFC fight event at the White House. I would be honoured! Count me in!” posted the fighter who hasn’t stepped into the octagon since 2021. “July 4th next year is a Saturday, regarding President Trumps UFC White House event. I will be reigning President of Ireland just under 1 year when I step out on the lawns of the White House to throw down. Epic proportions! Or as I like to call it, Tuesday at the office.”

Happy 4th of July, USA.

Excited with President Trump announcing a UFC fight event at the White House.

I would be honoured! Count me in!

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 4, 2025

July 4th next year is a Saturday, regarding President Trumps UFC White House event.

I will be reigning President of Ireland just under 1 year when I step out on the lawns of the White House to throw down.

Epic proportions! Or as I like to call it, Tuesday at the office.

Vote…

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 4, 2025

Likewise, others sounded off with their favor and a reminder about other activities that had taken place at the White House, such as the “Pride” events that then-President Joe Biden had hosted and the bizarre Christmas display from then-first lady Jill Biden.

They must have short term memory from the last 4 years. I already knew what the comments would be like before I opened it

— Richard “Skip” Johnson (@ski92006) July 4, 2025

Yeah, speaking of ‘unpresidential’ … https://t.co/JoMjiBG5r9

— Elephino (@mriendea) July 5, 2025

Never even considered that was an option but damn I love it!

— Jum (@JesterJum) July 4, 2025

That is the absolute most awesome thing I can think of happening. 47 is very entertaining. Very!

— The media is the enemy (@dozermanz) July 4, 2025

If it’s not Putin versus Zelensky and Netanyahu versus Pezeshkian? Then we are not a serious country. Those are the only two fights that I’m interested in watching on the White House lawn.

— Louis T. Getterman IV — e/acc (@ltgiv) July 4, 2025

Musk [v] Zuckerberg finally going down

— † ︎ (@tommyborumjokes) July 4, 2025

Most American thing I’ve ever heard

— Backfire (@BackfireBros) July 4, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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