President Donald Trump confirmed he will attend the upcoming UFC 250th anniversary event at the White House, telling Jake Paul that the idea originated with Dana White and that every fighter on the card wants to be part of it.
Trump made the comments during a sit-down interview with Paul recorded at a factory rally in Ohio on March 13, 2026 β the debut episode of Paul's new show.
I will be [at UFC 250]. It's going to be amazing β at the White House," Trump said. "Dana is a great guy. He had the idea of staging it right at the front door of the White House. He's got a tremendous card. They all want to fight at the White House. It's going to be in honor of the 250th year.
The event, formally titled Freedom Fights 250, is scheduled for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House, coinciding with the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration and President Trump's 80th birthday. Dana White has confirmed the card is set and includes multiple title fights.
Trump Recommends Khabib as Jake Paul's Next Fight
The conversation also turned to Paul's future in boxing, with Trump offering his own fight suggestion. When asked who he'd want to see Paul face next, Trump went straight to a recognizable name from MMA.
I probably [want to see you fight] Khabib. How about Khabib? I think he's been just great," Trump said.
Paul didn't hesitate: "I'm down."
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated from MMA in 2020 with a 29-0 record following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He has since been involved in boxing discussions on multiple occasions but has never officially crossed over.
Paul also mentioned his promotion pipeline during the interview, including a planned Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight on Netflix and potential matchups with Oleksandr Usyk in MMA, Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Tommy Fury.
Trump Breaks Up a Fight for Kobe Bryant
In one of the lighter moments of the interview, Trump recounted a story from his past involving the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
It wasn't a fight β I was breaking up a fight," Trump said. "Which sometimes is more dangerous than being in a fight. Kobe was having a hard time with somebody and it worked out fine. Probably not a smart thing to do.
Paul responded with a laugh: "Historically, it's never good to break up fights."