Nicolai Haugsted
The superstar calls relationship with the President “very close”.
Heavy machinery, massive staging equipment and security crews are now taking over the lawn outside the White House ahead of one of the strangest presidential celebrations in modern American history.
Donald Trump is preparing to host a UFC event directly outside the White House as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations on June 14 — which also happens to be Trump’s 80th birthday.
Standing right beside him throughout the preparations is longtime friend and UFC president Dana White.
Relationship between the two stretches back more than two decades, long before Trump returned to politics and before UFC became a billion-dollar global sports machine.
Friendship Built Before UFC Became Mainstream
Dana White spoke about the relationship in a new interview with Rolling Stone, describing Trump as someone who supported UFC back when much of the sports world wanted nothing to do with mixed martial arts.
Trump gave UFC events space in Atlantic City during years where the organisation struggled for mainstream acceptance.
Support eventually evolved into a close personal friendship that still dominates headlines today.
“We’re very close,” White said.
Politics, according to White, rarely enters the conversation.
“We definitely don’t talk about politics. We talk about everything else. How the family’s doing, what’s going on, how he’s doing,” White explained.
“But, I mean… the guy doesn’t sleep. I don’t sleep much either, but his level is inhuman. I have no idea how he does it. Especially at his age.”
White House Fight Night Started Ringside
Idea reportedly came directly from Trump himself during another UFC event where the pair sat cageside together.
It was the President that came up with the idea of arranging the fight at the White House.
Dana White apparently needed very little convincing.
Plans are now moving full speed ahead for what Trump has already started marketing as a historic entertainment event unlike anything Washington has ever seen before.
Trump Promises Historic Celebration
President has repeatedly hyped the upcoming UFC card in classic Trump fashion.
“Nothing like this has ever been seen before. It’s going to be the biggest event ever held at the White House,” Trump previously said.
Combination of presidential politics, UFC theatrics and Trump-style showmanship is already turning the event into one of the most unusual spectacles planned for America’s anniversary celebrations.
Somewhere between national ceremony and pay-per-view energy, White House lawn is preparing to become fight night territory.
