Dana White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, says he’s planning to build a fight arena on the White House lawn — and he’s calling it an honor.
White told NPR’s Steve Inskeep about the project in an interview published Tuesday, May 27. He didn’t detail a timeline or cost, and NPR’s report didn’t include specifics on the arena’s size or how long it would stand.
Background
White has been a prominent figure in Donald Trump’s orbit for years. The UFC chief spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024 and has maintained a public friendship with Trump well before the former president’s return to the White House. That relationship appears to be the backdrop for a project that would put a professional fighting venue on some of the most scrutinized real estate in the country.
The White House lawn has hosted egg rolls, concerts, and state ceremonies — not cage fights. Whether any permits, federal approvals, or security reviews are required for a temporary fight structure on the grounds wasn’t addressed in NPR’s interview with White.
White described the opportunity in flattering terms. “Honor” was the word he used. He didn’t say which UFC event, if any, is planned for the venue, or whether fighters have been booked.
The UFC has staged fights in unconventional settings before — including on a private island during the COVID-19 pandemic — so a White House lawn card wouldn’t be the promotion’s first departure from a traditional arena. Whether this one actually gets built is still an open question; no date, no card, and no official White House confirmation appeared in NPR’s report.
This story is based on reporting by NPR. Read the original report.
