UFC's White House Card 'Isn't About Politics', Says Dana White

UFC President insists upcoming 'UFC Freedom 250' event is a celebration of America, not a political statement.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a UFC fight scene, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, white, and blue colors representing the patriotic theme of the event.The geometric, fragmented visual style captures the raw energy and patriotic spirit of the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.Washington Today

UFC President Dana White has dismissed claims that the upcoming 'UFC Freedom 250' event, scheduled to take place at the White House on June 14, is a political statement. White insists the event is the UFC's 'gift to the 250th birthday of America' and has 'nothing to do with politics', regardless of one's political leanings. He also confirmed that the UFC is covering all costs for the event and no taxpayer money will be used.

Why it matters

The decision to host a major UFC pay-per-view event at the White House has raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the potential political implications. However, Dana White's comments aim to reframe the narrative and position the event as a patriotic celebration of America's history and values, rather than a partisan political statement.

The details

UFC Freedom 250 is set to take place on June 14, which is Flag Day in the United States. The event will be held on the White House lawn, with President Donald Trump in attendance. Some have questioned whether taxpayer money will be used to fund the event, but White has assured that the UFC is covering all costs.

  • UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
  • The event will take place on the 250th birthday of the United States.

The players

Dana White

The President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the largest professional mixed martial arts promotion company in the world.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who is expected to attend the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is the UFC's gift to the 250th birthday of America. I think 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, wherever you sit politically, because everybody sits somewhere politicly these days. This isn't about politics, this is about the United States, what this country was about, how it was built, where we all came from. If you love America, you're going to love this event. It has nothing to do with politics, we just happen to be on the White House lawn and the President of the United States will be there.”

— Dana White, UFC President

“We're paying the entire bill on all of this. Everything that you're seeing, not one dollar of taxpayer money will go into this.”

— Dana White, UFC President

What’s next

The UFC will continue to promote UFC Freedom 250 in the lead-up to the June 14th event, which is expected to draw significant attention and controversy due to its location at the White House.

The takeaway

Dana White's insistence that UFC Freedom 250 is not a political event, but rather a celebration of America's 250th birthday, aims to shift the narrative and appeal to a broad audience of patriotic fight fans. However, the event's high-profile setting at the White House will likely continue to fuel debate about the UFC's political leanings and the appropriate role of sports in national politics.