UFC fight at White House planned, Trump says

The White House will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, match sometime in the next year, President Donald Trump told an Iowa crowd on Thursday. The fight would be part of a yearlong schedule of events to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026, he said. The president said the match could include room for over 20,000 spectators.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plans on Friday, saying the fight would be epic. Trump is friends with UFC president Dana White and has attended several matches during his presidential term, according to the Associated Press.

What else does Trump have planned for the yearlong celebration? The president said an athletic competition for high school students and a festival on the National Mall in Washington were also in the works. National parks and historic sites would also host events, he said. Trump also touted an executive order he signed on Thursday increasing park entrance fees for foreign visitors.

What was Trump’s Thursday speech about? The president touted his own political wins and criticized his opponents during the speech, alongside proclaiming his love for American history and values. He also celebrated the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and suggested he might allow farmers to vouch for longtime migrant workers in order to prevent their deportation.