With UFC Freedom 250 set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, Dana White sat down with Forbes to discuss the political optics surrounding the event, Joe Rogan’s public skepticism, and whether the UFC has become associated with the MAGA movement.
When asked directly whether most viewers watching on June 14 would associate the UFC with MAGA, White acknowledged that many probably would.
“Probably,” he said. “But you’re never going to change those guys anyway. That’s never going to change.”
White then broadened the discussion, arguing that the opportunity itself should transcend politics regardless of who occupies the White House.
“If you have the opportunity to have a fig ht at the White House, Obama, Trump, Bush, Reagan, no matter who’s in there, you wouldn’t do it?” White said. “Why would you not do it?”
He continued by framing it as a matter of civic respect rather than political allegiance.
“Whoever wins the next election is the president of the United States,” White said. “I am an American citizen. And if they called and asked me for something, I would have to imagine that I would say, ‘Yes, Mr. President. Let me see what I can do and try to do it.'”
White also pushed back on the suggestion that the event was scheduled around President Trump’s birthday for political reasons. According to him, the date was the result of scheduling logistics rather than symbolism.
“It wasn’t his idea on his birthday,” White said. “He wanted to do this. He asked me if I would be into it.”
White explained that the original plan was different before Trump’s team examined the schedule more closely.
“And it was supposed to be on the 4th of July, but he didn’t realize he’s going to be in like three different states on the 4th of July,” White said. “So when his team dove into it, Flag Day ended up being the day that they chose to do it, which is his birthday.”
Joe Rogan’s recent comments questioning the event drew a measured response from White, who emphasized that his longtime friend is entitled to his own opinions.
“Joe Rogan is a grown man who has his own opinions on different things,” White said. “Yes, we are really good friends. I don’t call him and say, ‘What are you doing? Why are you talking about bugs?’ I’m talking about bugs, too.”
However, White disagreed with Rogan’s characterization of the White House card as a gimmick.
“When you talk about a gimmick, there’s absolutely nothing gimmicky about this event,” White said.
He stressed that the card would carry genuine competitive significance.
“It’s a real fig ht with real stakes,” White said, pointing to Alex Pereira’s opportunity to win a third world title and potentially surpass Jon Jones in the GOAT conversation.
White also broader criticism regarding his political associations, including questions raised during a recent appearance on The Charlemagne Show.
“I could care less,” White said when asked how others perceive his relationship with the president. “How other people perceive me doesn’t matter to me.”
When the topic shifted to cancel culture, White offered his own definition of what it means to be cancelled.
“The only people that can cancel you are people that you actually care about,” he said. “Family members, friends, people that matter to you every day.”
As for concerns that political associations could discourage some viewers from watching the event, White expressed confidence that Americans across the political spectrum would be able to rally around the occasion.
“We’re celebrating 250 years of America,” White said. “I truly do believe that people on the left love America and people on the right love America, and people right down the middle love America.”
