As the UFC prepares for a high-profile appearance at the White House, Dana White’s promotion once again finds itself at the intersection of sport, culture, and politics. Amid the hype, critics have questioned whether the optics of the event, held at such a symbolic political venue, risk blurring the lines between athletic celebration and political alignment.
UFC president Dana White, however, has little patience for that argument, pushing back firmly against claims that the promotion’s presence carries any political agenda.
Dana White Breaks Silence on UFC’s White House Visit and Donald Trump Ties
White has firmly rejected the notion that the organization’s presence at the White House represents a political statement, framing the criticism as a misunderstanding of both sports history and fandom.
Speaking candidly to Bloomberg about the scrutiny surrounding the event, the 56-year-old emphasized that political leaders’ associations with sports have long been part of American culture, without fundamentally altering the nature of the games themselves.
“I don’t know how it would be too political other than its at the White House,” Dana White stated, before offering critics a brief history lesson. “If you look back throughout history. I think George Bush was a big baseball fan, Obama was a NBA fan and Trump is a UFC fan. I don’t think that any of those guys being fans made any sport too political.”
Dana White responds to criticism that the UFC White House event is 'too political':
"George Bush was a baseball fan, Obama was an NBA fan, and Trump is a UFC fan. I don't think any of those guys being fans made any sport too political."
(via @business)pic.twitter.com/VQeYvXOAog
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 21, 2026
Dana White’s comments arrive amid renewed attention on his personal relationship with President Trump, a connection he has never attempted to downplay. Trump has been a visible supporter of the UFC for years, frequently attending events and praising the organization’s rise. Yet White has consistently drawn a line between personal friendships and the promotion’s identity as a global sports brand.
Dana White Using UFC White House Card to Celebrate Promotion
According to Dana White, the upcoming White House event, scheduled for June 14, is intended to recognize the UFC’s growth, its athletes, and the organization’s expanding international footprint, not to signal support for any political ideology. Fighters and staff are expected to attend as part of a broader celebration of the promotion’s achievements and its role in bringing mixed martial arts further into the mainstream.
From time to time, the UFC CEO has reiterated that the organization itself does not align with any political party. With athletes from dozens of countries, backgrounds, and belief systems, Dana White argues that the UFC’s appeal lies in competition and performance, not politics. In his view, attempts to frame the White House appearance as a political endorsement risk overlooking the unifying power of sport.
Still, the criticism reflects a broader conversation about how sports organizations navigate visibility in politically charged environments. For some observers, symbolism matters as much as intent. Dana White, however, remains unmoved by those concerns, maintaining that location alone does not redefine purpose.
While the promoters are yet to finalize the card, Dana White’s response leaves little room for ambiguity. In his view, the UFC’s presence at the White House reflects how far the sport has come, not a shift toward political messaging or division.
