Donald Trump adds surprise twist to UFC White House event
Plans for a historic UFC event at the White House took an unexpected turn over the weekend, after US President Donald Trump personally weighed in on the fight lineup during a live event in Miami.
The moment added a fresh layer of intrigue to UFC Freedom 250, an upcoming card already drawing attention for its unusual setting and political backdrop.
Presidential appearance in Miami
Trump attended UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center on Saturday, taking a cageside seat for the main card. Broadcast footage showed he received a mixed reaction from the crowd as he entered the arena.
The event itself was headlined by Carlos Ulberg, who rallied to defeat Jiri Prochazka and capture the vacant light heavyweight title.
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Trump’s appearance came as preparations continue for the June event on the South Lawn of the White House.
An unconventional collaboration
UFC CEO Dana White has been working closely with Trump to shape the fight card, according to event comments and reporting by GiveMeSport. The card is expected to be headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
Staging a UFC event at the White House—timed to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday—would mark one of the most unconventional venues in the promotion’s history, blending sport with a highly visible political setting.
A last-minute push for Derrick Lewis
According to GiveMeSport, Trump raised a specific concern during the Miami event, questioning why heavyweight Derrick Lewis had not been included.
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“The President leans over to me and he said: ‘Why isn't Derrick Lewis on the White House card?’” White recalled.
Lewis, known as “The Black Beast,” is one of the UFC’s most recognizable heavyweights, holding records for both knockouts and finishes in the division.
White said he immediately contacted Lewis to see if he would be interested in joining the card.
“I said, ‘Derrick, the president just asked me why you’re not on the card. Do you wanna fight on the White House card?’” White said. “And he goes: ‘Of course I do. Tell the President thank you, I wanna do it.’”
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Fight falls into place
The idea quickly turned into a confirmed matchup following Josh Hokit’s win over Curtis Blaydes earlier in the night, which positioned him as a viable opponent.
White added that commentary from Joe Rogan during the broadcast helped accelerate the decision-making process.
“Hokit vs Lewis was just added to the White House card in the last 10 minutes,” White said. “President Trump built half of that fight, and Rogan built the other half!”
Looking ahead
With the addition of Lewis vs Hokit, the event now stands at seven bouts. While the lineup appears close to finalized, further adjustments remain possible in the lead-up to June.
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Beyond the fights themselves, the event is generating attention for what it represents—a rare intersection of professional sport, entertainment, and presidential influence on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Sources: GiveMeSport, UFC statements, broadcast coverage
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