• UFC at the White House set for June 14, 2026, tied to Trump’s 80th birthday and the Navy’s 250th anniversary.
• Ivanka Trump and UFC chief Dana White coordinating; grass replacement around $700,000 planned for the South Lawn.
• Paramount broadcasting deal to enable live viewing, with security considerations and invitation-only expectations.
• Public comments include a bold assertion from White about delivering the “greatest fight card” for the company.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, 2026, to celebrate his 80th birthday and the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary. The declaration came during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where Trump said the event would be staged “on the grounds of the White House,” 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,” according to Reuters and corroborated by Al Jazeera and Times of India. according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Times of India.

UFC CEO Dana White and the president’s circle are coordinating the event, with Ivanka Trump assisting on logistics. Reuters notes the event includes a plan to spend about $700,000 to replace the White House South Lawn grass, signaling the scale of preparations; White also described the effort as part of a larger push to deliver a “massive, incredible card” and to engage a broad audience. White’s remarks about the project came as he told reporters at a UFC event and were echoed in the coverage from Al Jazeera and Times of India, which also reference Ivanka’s involvement. according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Times of India.

Broadcasting plans are central to the talks: Al Jazeera and Times of India note a Paramount deal enabling live viewing early in 2026, without traditional pay-per-view restrictions, while Reuters mentions the broader aim of a highly publicized production. White has also signaled that the White House card will be a flagship project for the UFC’s new network and distribution strategy, with the YouTube-confirmed remarks reinforcing the urgency to “deliver a massive, incredible card.” these elements are cited in coverage from Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Times of India. according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Times of India.

Despite the spectacle, experts highlight the sport’s brutal nature and ongoing safety concerns: “Its brutal nature and high injury rate mean the sport is controversial, with doctors decrying the potential for brain damage among fighters who are repeatedly hit in the head, though it has gained increasing mainstream acceptance in recent years,” Al Jazeera notes. The coverage in Reuters and Times of India reinforces that the event’s public rollout will be watched closely, even as organizers frame it as a historic first and a showcase of UFC’s reach. according to Al Jazeera.