UFC plans at the White House surprise NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani during meeting with Trump
A meeting calmer than expected
When New York City mayor elect Zohran Mamdani visited the White House, expectations were shaped by the tense election season where both he and President Trump had criticized each other in public. Despite that backdrop, Mamdani later described the conversation as smoother than most people anticipated.
According to reporting from UNILAD, Trump appeared at ease during the visit and even brushed aside questions about earlier remarks Mamdani had made about him. Mamdani said the atmosphere felt surprisingly undramatic.
A folder that stood out
The most memorable moment was not part of the discussion but something Mamdani noticed on the president’s desk. Speaking on The Adam Friedland Show, he said he saw a folder titled “UFC at the White House”. When he looked inside, he found sketches and planning notes suggesting that a large scale mixed martial arts event had been discussed as a possible White House attraction.
Why UFC matters in this story
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is the largest global promoter of mixed martial arts. MMA combines striking and grappling techniques from sports such as wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Once a fringe attraction in the 1990s, the UFC has grown into a mainstream powerhouse with international broadcasts, celebrity fighters and billion dollar revenues.
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Trump has a long association with the organization. Before entering politics, he hosted early UFC events at his Atlantic City casinos and formed a lasting friendship with UFC president Dana White. That relationship has continued through Trumps political career, with White publicly supporting him at several key moments.
Seen in that context, the idea of a UFC exhibition on the South Lawn is less surprising than it might seem to those unfamiliar with the sport.
Potential anniversary showcase
UNILAD reports that the plans appear to be linked to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Mamdani said the papers included illustrations of an outdoor octagon style arena, the signature fighting structure used in UFC events.
Dana White has previously suggested that such a spectacle could draw around 5,000 live spectators with large screens extending the viewing area to tens of thousands more. No modern White House administration has hosted a live combat sports event, making the idea unusual even by the standards of presidential showmanship.
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A moment that even surprised Mamdani
When Adam Friedland asked whether he would attend the fight if it happened, Mamdani laughed and said no. For him, the folder was simply an unexpected detail in an otherwise straightforward introductory meeting.
For the public, it offers a small but striking insight into how Trump continues to blend sports entertainment with national politics as the country approaches its semiquincentennial celebrations.
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