Inside the Oval Octagon: Trump's Plans for a UFC Event at the White House
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shared his experience of visiting President Donald Trump's Oval Office on The Adam Friedland Show. During the visit, Mamdani was shown portraits of past presidents in the cabinet room and The Roosevelt Room in the West Wing. However, what caught his attention was a coffee table book titled 'UFC at the White House,' showcasing concept art for an octagon-shaped cage to be built on the South Lawn for an event planned for June 2026.
Mamdani mentioned that he had no prior knowledge of the UFC event that Trump intends to host at the White House to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. The concept art in the book depicted the visualization of the octagon where fighters would compete. Despite the intriguing display, Mamdani confirmed that he would not be attending the event.
Trump initially hinted at the UFC spectacle during a speech in Iowa, with plans for the event to coincide with his 80th birthday on June 14, 2026. UFC CEO Dana White revealed details of the event, including a crowd capacity of 5,000 and screens for an 85,000-person overflow audience. Additionally, White pledged $700,000 for the restoration of the South Lawn post-event.
While the fighters participating in the event have not been announced, Trump's association with the sport is well-known. He has made appearances at UFC events and welcomed former UFC champion Conor McGregor to the White House on St. Patrick's Day. The UFC event at the White House is set to be a unique and memorable celebration of America's milestone anniversary.