President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka is stepping back into the spotlight for an unprecedented sporting spectacle that would mark a historic first for the nation’s most famous residence.
Ivanka Trump, who has maintained a notably low profile since her father’s return to the presidency, is now actively collaborating with UFC CEO Dana White to orchestrate what could become one of the most talked-about events in combat sports history. The ambitious project aims to bring MMA to the White House grounds as part of America’s 250th independence anniversary celebrations next July.
“I feel really good about how that’s progressing,” White told Front Office Sports, revealing the scope of Ivanka’s involvement. “We’re actually heading (to Washington) at the end of August for meetings about it. Ivanka is also involved in this.”
The 43-year-old, who previously served as a full-time adviser during her father’s first presidential term, had largely stepped away from the political arena after admitting earlier this year that she “hates politics.”
White confirmed that the event is “definitely happening” and is likely to secure a broadcast deal with CBS, potentially bringing primetime MMA to one of America’s most iconic locations. The UFC CEO indicated that upcoming presentations will outline the logistics and vision for the groundbreaking event.
This development comes at a time when Ivanka has deepened her connection to martial arts through her family’s embrace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The passion began when her 11-year-old daughter Arabella approached her with a remarkably mature request for self-defense training.
“She came to me and said, ‘You know, as a woman, I feel like I need to know how to defend myself, and I don’t have a confidence level yet that I can do that,'” Ivanka recalled in a recent interview. “My jaw just hit the ground because at 11, I don’t know what I was doing – I was thinking about boys or something – but I was not thinking about being able to physically defend myself.”
What started as individual classes for Arabella quickly transformed into a family endeavor. Ivanka began accompanying her daughter to training sessions with the renowned Valente Brothers in Miami, eventually joining the practice herself. The enthusiasm proved contagious, drawing in her two sons and husband Jared Kushner.
“I started driving her to these classes. She started asking me to join, so I joined. Then my two sons wanted to do what their older sister was doing. Then my husband joined,” she explained. “It’s supposed to be really good for kids, right? It is good for everyone, and it’s like multiple things I like, so it meshes. Physical movement—it’s almost like a moving meditation because the movements are so micro. It’s like three-dimensional chess.”
The former White House adviser has developed such an appreciation for martial arts that she now enjoys watching UFC matches. Her growing expertise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu appears to have created a natural bridge to her current collaboration with White.
“I’m good right now. I’m actually good. It’s fun—you guys would love it. It satisfies both. There’s a real spiritualism to it, like the grounding in Samurai tradition, culture, and wisdom,” she noted, highlighting the philosophical aspects that appeal to her intellectual curiosity.
The White House event would capitalize on the strong relationship between President Trump and Dana White, who have maintained close ties over recent years. The president is a regular attendee at UFC events, and White has been a vocal supporter of the Trump administration.
According to her official White House biography, Ivanka serves as an adviser to her father, “focusing on the education and economic empowerment of women and their families as well as job creation and economic growth through workforce development, skills training and entrepreneurship.” Her involvement in the UFC project represents a unique intersection of entertainment, sports, and ceremonial duties tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.
White’s confidence in the project’s progression suggests that the necessary approvals and security considerations are being addressed systematically, with Ivanka serving as a crucial liaison between the UFC organization and the administration.
