A UFC showdown on the White House lawn? President Donald Trump on Thursday floated just such an audacious plan, intending to host a mixed martial arts fight with a crowd of over 20,000 to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Trump unveiled the idea while speaking in Iowa, where he kicked off a yearlong series of celebrations leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.

“We have a lot of land there,” said Trump, a UFC enthusiast who has attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends with Dana White, the league's president.

In addition to the proposed UFC extravaganza, Trump announced plans for a grand festival on the National Mall in Washington, as well as a nationwide athletic contest featuring standout high school athletes from across the country. A White House spokesperson, however, offered no further clarification, stating only that they had no additional details beyond the former president’s remarks.