Dana White’s boss responds to Donald Trump’s bold White House UFC claims
Plans for a UFC event at the White House are still moving forward, but company leadership is signaling a smaller-scale show than some earlier public comments suggested.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Ari Emanuel CEO of TKO Group, the UFC’s parent company said the June 14 card on the South Lawn would likely accommodate between 3,000 and 4,000 spectators, with additional viewing areas nearby.
That figure is lower than projections previously outlined by President Donald Trump, who first introduced the idea of staging a fight on White House grounds as part of the America 250 celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Trump’s Earlier Remarks
During remarks in December that were later circulated by the combat sports social media account Championship Rounds, Trump predicted a stacked lineup.
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“They're gonna have eight or nine championship fights, the biggest fights they've ever had,” he said.
“Every one's a championship fight, and everyone's a legendary type of fighter.”
Trump also said UFC president Dana White was postponing other major matchups to build the White House card. “He's actually holding back fights right now, for six months, so he can do it for June 14,” Trump said.
He described an arena setup featuring “5,000 or 6,000 seats,” and added that as many as “100,000 people in the back” would watch on large outdoor screens.
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Those numbers drew skepticism from some fans online, given the logistical and security constraints of hosting a live sporting event at one of the country’s most tightly controlled venues.
What the UFC Is Planning
Emanuel offered a more restrained outline.
“There’s gonna be approximately six-seven fights on June 14,” he said, adding that White is still finalizing the matchups. “He hasn't said to us what the card's gonna be but I know they're working pretty hard on it right now.”
No bouts have been officially announced. Still, several prominent fighters have been linked to the event in recent weeks, including Jon Jones, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler.
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Former UFC contender Chael Sonnen has claimed that Chandler is “guaranteed” a spot on the card, though no opponent has been formally revealed.
A Unique Setting for the Promotion
While the UFC has promoted stadium events and major cards at venues such as Madison Square Garden and international soccer stadiums, a White House backdrop would present different security and infrastructure challenges.
For now, the promotion appears to be working through those practical details as it shapes what would be one of the most unusual settings in the sport’s history.
Sources: The Pat McAfee Show, public remarks by Donald Trump circulated via Championship Rounds
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