UFC president Dana White says Ivanka Trump is helping plan a proposed mixed martial arts event to be held on White House grounds next July, timed to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.
White described the project as “definitely happening” and said he expects the fight night to be broadcast on CBS. He added that he and his team will travel to Washington at the end of August to make a presentation and discuss details with officials. “I feel really good about how that’s progressing,” he said, noting Ivanka Trump’s involvement in organizing the event.
Ivanka Trump, who served as a full-time adviser during her father’s first term and remains listed as an adviser focusing on economic empowerment and workforce development, has kept a lower public profile since the 2021 transition but is reported to be working with White on the proposal. Donald Trump has frequently attended UFC events and has cultivated a long-standing relationship with White.
Background on Ivanka Trump included in the White House profile notes her previous role at the Trump Organization overseeing development and acquisitions alongside her brothers, and that she lives in Washington with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children.
What this would take: staging a sports event on federal grounds involves multiple layers of planning and approval — from White House operations and the Secret Service to broadcast partners and event production teams — so White’s meetings in Washington later this summer will be an early step in addressing logistics, security and permitting. If approved, the show would mark a rare sporting event held on the White House grounds and would likely draw significant media attention.
Short summary
Dana White says Ivanka Trump is helping organize a UFC event proposed for the White House grounds next July to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. White expects to present plans in Washington at the end of August and believes the event could air on CBS.
Additional comments and context
– Practical hurdles remain: any White House event requires coordination with the Secret Service, White House operations staff, and relevant federal agencies; broadcast arrangements and commercial sponsorships would also need to be negotiated.
– If approved, the event could raise questions about precedent and public access to government spaces, as well as discussions about the appropriateness of staging a commercial sporting event on presidential grounds.
– On the positive side, organizers present it as a patriotic celebration tied to a major national milestone; a well-managed event could attract a wide audience and showcase a large-scale live production in a highly symbolic setting.
Suggested additions for publication
– Seek comment from White House communications or Ivanka Trump’s office for confirmation and details on her specific role.
– Include a brief timeline of next steps following the August meetings to set reader expectations about how and when a final decision will be made.
– Add context about previous notable events held at the White House to illustrate how unusual (or not) such a sporting event would be.