The decision to host a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House drew sharp criticism from sports commentators, with many arguing that the spectacle undermined the institution’s historical significance regardless of political affiliation.
Speaking on the LeBatardShow, the hosts did not hold back when talking about the event’s setting.
“It’s a travesty. It’s a disgrace to the historic prestige of the White House,” one of the panelists said, arguing that the event “demeans the history of the White House.”
Much of the immediate backlash focused on comments made by Josh Hokit about Michelle Obama. Le Batard condemned the remarks as “despicable” and said they “put a sour note on everything.”
While the optics of the event generated the most public outrage, Le Batard argued that a deeper issue was being overlooked. According to him, the growing relationship between the UFC and President Donald Trump raised concerns that extended far beyond a single event.
“The idea that the UFC is now a propaganda arm for a very unpopular president doing wildly unpopular things against the polling wishes of most Americans,” Le Batard said, before turning his attention to the financial ties between Dana White and Trump.
Referencing reports about Trump’s family benefiting from holdings in TKO, the UFC’s parent company, Le Batard questioned the nature of the relationship between the two men.
“The allegiance of these two liars, a carnival barker who’s treated as a commissioner and the president of the United States,” he said.
He continued by arguing that the partnership reflected a larger problem.
“The combination of these two things, the thing that I think is most interesting there is how deeply corrupt the whole thing is.”
Despite the criticism, the panel acknowledged that the event featured several memorable moments. Justin Gaethje’s reading of the Declaration of Independence before his match against Ilia Topuria stood out as a highlight.
Still, those moments remained intertwined with the political atmosphere surrounding the event.
Dana White himself drew praise from the panel for distancing the promotion from Hokit’s comments. White reportedly told Time magazine that the remarks about Michelle Obama had no place at the event. As Le Batard pointed out, that response was notable given White’s reputation as a free speech absolutist.
The panel also conceded that, from a business standpoint, the event delivered for the UFC.
“It can’t be argued that it wasn’t a success for Dana White,” Le Batard said.
The promotion managed to navigate a rain delay and the logistical challenges of staging an outdoor event at the White House without major issues.
Even so, Le Batard remained troubled by what the event represented on a broader level.
“Everything that I have seen recently from what Trump is doing feels like what you would see in a communist country where you have a leader like Putin who’s allowed to score seven goals in a hockey exhibition,” he said.
For him, the quality of the matches ultimately felt secondary to the larger political context surrounding the night.
“The matches being great seems kind of small compared to the size of the moment that we’re in,” Le Batard said.
He concluded by lamenting what he sees as a lack of leadership from influential figures.
“And the lack of leadership it has when you’re demanding leadership from people who are good at leading and instead what you just get is a couple of clowns.”
