Dana White gave President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, a behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 250 Freedom event that took place on June 14 on the White House lawn.
The 19-year-old <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3M04O-0SyE">posted</a> a video on YouTube on Tuesday that gave viewers a peek at a day spent one-on-one with White. Her vlog started with her morning at Starbucks and Sephora, but then she headed to Thesis Gym and White started their day with a workout.
“We’ve have a full day. It’s gonna be a very long day,” White said.
The day before the fight, Trump joined the UFC president on the White House lawn to watch the Nitro Circus “Wheel Team Six” motorcyclists perform. The show included a daring backflip from Travis Pastrana.
White then proceeded to give Trump an exclusive tour of the extravagant stadium, built specifically for the White House event, where they encountered a number of those who would be involved in the production, such as Joe Rogan and Nina Drama.
While getting ready for the weigh-in ceremony, Trump and White made their way through the crowd of supporters while taking pictures and signing autographs with fans. They were onstage for the weigh-in ceremony at the beginning of the event with Steve Garcia and Diego Lopes as the sea of patriotic supporters cheered in response.
Trump ended her vlog with a montage of the UFC fighters and fireworks show.
The UFC fight at the White House was just one small part of the massive celebration for America&#8217;s 250th anniversary, and it also happened to fall on President Donald Trump&#8217;s 80th birthday.
Weather concerns earlier in the evening had prompted the UFC to initiate a one-hour delay for the first fight — and participants were warned that once things got underway, any lightning strikes near the White House would trigger an additional automatic 30-minute delay.

Dana White Gives Kai Trump A Behind-The-Scenes Look At UFC’s White House Fight Card

Dana White

Kai Trump

UFC Freedom 250

The UFC held its once-in-a-lifetime “UFC Freedom 250” event on the White House South Lawn Sunday night, an event that featured patriotic walkouts, a Thunderbirds and Blue Angels flyover, and a string of must-see fights. 
The most anticipated fight of the night was saved for last, as Justin Gaethje looked to pull off one of the most miraculous wins in the history of the UFC over Ilia Topuria, who is a two weight class champion and is coming off of knockouts of all time greats in the sport against Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
Many doubted Gaethje, the American, whose odds closed from around 4-1 to even 6-1 on some sites. This didn&#8217;t stop Gaethje.
Following three rounds of domination and a near-doctor’s stoppage at the end of the third, Topuria’s corner threw in the towel at the end of the fourth round, earning Gaethje his first ever undisputed lightweight championship in arguably the biggest upset in the history of mixed martial arts.
“I’m from America, 250 years ago we were way bigger than 6-1 dogs, and look at us thriving now,” Gaethje stated in his post-fight interview.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
New UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje dropped a legendary line after his HISTORIC upset over Illia Topuria.
Joe Rogan pointed out that he was a 6-1 underdog going into the fight.
GAETHJE: “Hey, I’m from America. 250 years ago we were WAY bigger than 6-1 dogs!”
“And look… <a href="https://t.co/3d3AMKp3RQ">pic.twitter.com/3d3AMKp3RQ</a>
— Overton (@overton_news) <a href="https://x.com/overton_news/status/2066394830654054709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
The card consisted of seven matches including two title fights in the heavyweight and lightweight division. President and CEO of the UFC Dana White scheduled some of the biggest names in the sport to compete in the historical event, including Sean O’Malley, Michael Chandler, and Alex Pereira.
All seven fights finished via knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO), making it one of the most entertaining cards in the history of mixed martial arts.
Festivities began with a flyover from the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels during the national anthem. Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia set the tone early by engaging in exchanges in the center of the octagon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
No better way to start <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/UFCWhiteHouse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCWhiteHouse</a> 👏
LIVE NOW on <a href="https://x.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParamountPlus</a>!
[ UFC Freedom 250 Presented by <a href="https://x.com/cryptocom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cryptocom</a> &amp; <a href="https://x.com/RamTrucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RamTrucks</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/zSusjJnsJx">pic.twitter.com/zSusjJnsJx</a>
— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://x.com/ufc/status/2066319172955742614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
Halfway through the second round, Lopes caught Garcia with a handful of beautiful shots, knocking him down and finishing the fight on the ground. While the Brazilian defeated an American in this bout, Bo Nickal was able to kick things off for the Americans, a sign of good things to come for the main event. Nickal defeated his opponent Kyle Daukaus by TKO in the first round, being the first of four Americans to win at UFC Freedom 250. 
American fan-favorite Michael Chandler stepped into the octagon next, but Brazilian star Mauricio Ruffy finished Chandler after a series of head kicks and straight shots at the end of the first round.
The United States was able to get back in the win column with fireworks in the ensuing fights. 
Heavyweight Josh Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis by TKO in the second round before cutting a Randy Savage/Hulk Hogan-esque promo, finishing with a comment for former first lady Michelle Obama.
“And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man,” Hokit yelled over the <a href="https://x.com/theblaze/status/2066354899068015048?s=46">microphone</a>. “Am I right, America?”
The unforgettable moments continued as America’s own “Suga” Sean O’Malley earned a walk-off knockout over Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi, saluting to the crowd before the referee could even call the fight.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Sean O’Malley hit a salute before Aiemann Zahabi even hit the ground 😳
Insane walk off emote 💀
(via <a href="https://x.com/UFConParamount?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UFConParamount</a>) <a href="https://t.co/WuaoOK7nwr">pic.twitter.com/WuaoOK7nwr</a>
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) <a href="https://x.com/HappyPunch/status/2066362805758881971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
O’Malley’s knockout ended the final of the non-title fight matches, prompting the second flyover over the night, this time from a B-1 Lancer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Amazing fly over after Sean O&#8217;Malley&#8217;s TKO victory at UFC 250! <a href="https://t.co/J4UorcpwxB">pic.twitter.com/J4UorcpwxB</a>
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) <a href="https://x.com/nypostsports/status/2066366430698959320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
Later in the night, France’s Ciryl Gane delivered another exciting win, knocking out fan-favorite and former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the beginning of the second round, who was looking to be the first fighter to be a champion at three different weight classes.
UFC Freedom 250 also included the fan fest, where mixed martial arts fans from across the country met up in the nation’s capital to attend meet and greets, other festivities, and the watch party, all taking place at The Ellipse. White estimated that nearly 200,000 people were in the park over the two-day event.
The massive event at the White House and surrounding areas led to backlash on social media. 
Members of the Left argued that the event was highly political, complaining that President Donald Trump was ruining the integrity of the South Lawn, even leading to a lawsuit being filed to stop the event, stating it was a “corrupt spectacle.&#8221; Following the event, White shot down any remarks suggesting that politics took over.
“I did all the media. We went to New York, I did far-Left. I did far-Right. I did down the middle. I did it all,” White said during the <a href="https://x.com/jedigoodman/status/2066419209991831775">press conference</a>. “I believe if you are an American, no matter where you sit politically, tonight was a proud night to just sit around and enjoy the 250th birthday of America.”
White has already expressed the uniqueness of the event, explaining that nothing like it would ever happen again. 
&#8220;This was an amazing experience,&#8221; White <a href="https://x.com/HappyPunch/status/2066412444424048645">said</a>. &#8220;This was a one of one that will never happen again. &#8230; I can&#8217;t afford it. There&#8217;s no f*cking way we can do this again.&#8221;

UFC Freedom 250: Topuria v Gaethje

American Upset Caps Off Wild UFC Night

Donald Trump

White House

The Left owns Hollywood lock, stock, and barrel. Or, to be more accurate, used to own.
New media rebels are finally giving the progressive monopoly some small but fiery competition. Think “The Joe Rogan Experience,” a contrarian podcast where alternative perspectives get millions of views across media platforms. Or a certain conservative outlet that produced the <a href="https://get.dailywire.com/amiracist/?gad_campaignid=21933436219&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7HIBhDoARIsAOATDxBm2hPQ6CcuV09hj6BwyoTy0cbj2esalZiZVU_F95kQ04U2iaLygZIaAsO6EALw_wcB&amp;utm_campaign=air&amp;utm_content=na_subscriptions&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_source=googlesearch">most popular documentary of the last decade.</a>
Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter-turned-X struck another blow against the Left’s pop culture cartel. Still, the Left’s near stranglehold on the arts remains in place, leaving a David vs. Goliath battle in progress.
Enter David Ellison, a corporate titan with a small but mighty slingshot.
<div id="attachment_997647" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-997647" class="size-large wp-image-997647" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2239551629-866x576.jpg" alt="David Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Skydance Corp., during the Bloomberg Screentime event in Los Angeles, California, US, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Screentime gathers the moguls, celebrities, and entrepreneurs defining the next phase of pop culture to discuss and debate the future of Hollywood studios, the boom in sports and live music and the impact of AI on the creative industries. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2239551629-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2239551629-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2239551629-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2239551629.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
The CEO of Skydance Media is now a major player in the entertainment space following his company’s acquisition of Paramount. And he could loom even larger should Skydance <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/david-ellisons-paramount-seen-front-runner-warner-bros-discovery-deal-2025-10-23/">add Warner Bros. Discovery</a> to its portfolio.
Ellison isn’t a number-crunching executive handing the creative side off to colleagues. His company’s biography says he “oversees the entire Skydance film slate.”
The son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison (one of the world’s richest men) is personally invested in entertainment, above and beyond his background with USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and memberships in the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy.
<div id="attachment_997643" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-997643" class="size-large wp-image-997643" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-450392142-866x576.jpg" alt="Larry Ellison, chief executive officer at Oracle Corp., speaks during an event at the company's headquarters in Redwood City, California, U.S., on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Ellison announced today that Oracle Corp will be releasing a new in memory database system called 12c in July 2014. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-450392142-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-450392142-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-450392142-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-450392142.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
An <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/features/david-ellison-hollywood-takeover-paramount-warner-bros-1236569136/">expansive Variety profile</a> suggests he’s willing to shake up the status quo in order to stay profitable in an uncertain time for film and TV studios. The old ways no longer work, he believes, and there’s plenty of evidence to back him up, given Hollywood’s uncertain present.
The bigger issue, one that could turn the cultural tide? He’s MAGA=adjacent. President Donald Trump has referred to the Ellisons as “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/media/ellison-wbd-trump-warner-bros-discovery-bid">friends” and “big supporters.”</a> 
Exaggerations? Possibly. The younger Ellison has been coy about his ties to Trump, telling a press gaggle earlier this year that he <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/david-ellison-paramount-plans-politics?srsltid=AfmBOopmFhN2gwtpuslNfLqAi5xkwi8GFifA8TAs49IslmXixJozLRyB">wanted to avoid political conversations</a>.
“Half my family is Democrat, half my family is Republican … I don’t intend to put my finger on the scale.”
That’s both an improvement on the status quo and something that speaks to both the cultural moment and the sense that Hollywood, Inc. has spent years alienating a huge swath of the country at its peril.
Ellison could make a sizable play for said swath by playing it down the middle. And, on occasion, reaching out to the Right when it makes sense. 
He recently partnered with the Trump administration to bring a UFC extravaganza to the White House lawn next year. That’s part of the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/paramount-wins-exclusive-us-rights-ufc-77-billion-deal-2025-08-11/">company’s $7.7 billion (with a B) UFC deal</a>. That sport skews decidedly young and male, a far cry from the “toxic masculinity” cries circulating in some Hollywood projects.
<div id="attachment_997651" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-997651" class="size-large wp-image-997651" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2242789414-864x576.jpg" alt="ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 23: UFC President and CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 321 press conference at Etihad Arena on October 23, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2242789414-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2242789414-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2242789414-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2242789414.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC</div>
Team UFC isn’t in lockstep with the Democrats like most sports, either. You won’t find an “End Racism” logo on any octagon. Some <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/29/mma-trump-election-433529">MMA stars are pro-Trump</a>, while key figures like Rogan and UFC CEO Dana White both endorsed the leader’s 2024 campaign.
Ellison recently acquired the center-driven Free Press news outlet and hired founder Bari Weiss to restore CBS News as a trustworthy platform.
Weiss, a center-Left lesbian with a passion for old-school journalism, is the kind of person few people of Ellison’s status would embrace. He chose her anyway, hoping she would restore the CBS brand to its former glory. She quickly axed departments tied to race and climate.
That Variety profile mentions upcoming Ellison projects, such as a “Top Gun” sequel, the Heartland hit that Hollywood has yet to Xerox in any meaningful fashion. The only recent film to capture “Top Gun: Maverick’s” spirit? “F1,” the Brad Pitt racing film from earlier this year. Both hit films were shot by the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-all-american-director-you-dont-know-by-name">same director</a>, Joseph Kosinski.
<div id="attachment_997633" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-997633" class="size-large wp-image-997633" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-1395478401-864x576.jpg" alt="SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 04: (L-R) Brian Robbins, President &amp; CEO, Paramount Pictures, Bob Bakish, President and CEO, Paramount Global, David Ellison, Joseph Kosinski, Tom Cruise, Shari Redstone, Non-Executive Chairwoman, Paramount Global, Jerry Bruckheimer and Christopher McQuarrie attends the Global Premiere of &quot;Top Gun: Maverick&quot; on May 04, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-1395478401-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-1395478401-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-1395478401-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-1395478401.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures</div>
Other Ellison films include a “Call of Duty” video game adaptation from Trump-friendly director Peter Berg and a cowboy feature the liberal outlet dubbed a “Western version of ‘Taken.’”
For years, Hollywood seemed willing to lose money in order to push a progressive message. The best example? It kept late-night TV reflexively liberal, ignoring viewers who craved a second opinion. Fox News shamed the industry by giving right-leaning Greg Gutfeld a late-night showcase, and his ratings numbers now speak for themselves.
That’s called leaving money on the table. Would Team Ellison do that?
CBS famously put an end to Stephen Colbert’s reign on “The Late Show,” giving him until May of 2026 to peddle his nonstop Trump barbs. That move came a month before Skydance acquired Paramount, Colbert’s then-employer.
As Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/skydance-colbert-late-show-anti-bribery-laws-paramount-senators-letter-1236476164/">reported</a>, “&#8230;Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, Skydance’s general counsel and co-president of business operations, said in part … “Skydance was “not involved” in CBS’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert&#8230;”
None of this means Ellison plans to turn Skydance into a Fox News-like media empire. No channels dedicated to Dinesh D’Souza documentaries or Chuck Norris films. It’s far more significant than that, potentially.
Ellison’s mission could give half the nation a veritable safe space, a company that won’t insult them and, on occasion, deliver content that speaks to their values. Hollywood needs fresh thinking and a way to reach audiences who have been chased away by A-list talent for far too long.
A key reason why the Oscars, a once-beloved TV institution, is no longer a ratings juggernaut is that too many stars rage against the show’s audience. Viewers hate them back by turning the channel.
Megastars no longer move the political needle every four years, in part, due to that animosity.
An Ellison-ized Hollywood could tell stories that would never otherwise be told. Imagine features on how Venezuela’s socialism crashed a once-prosperous nation. Or heroic tales that speak to the best American values, not just Oscar-bait dramas reeking of greedy capitalists or cruel men of faith.
It’s the kind of industry shake-up Hollywood needs, and it may take a billionaire of Ellison’s status to make it happen. Or, as screenwriter William Goldman said about Hollywood, “nobody knows anything.”
But if Ellison bucks conventional wisdom, he actually could make Hollywood great again.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Key Speakers At The Bloomberg Screentime Conference

Paramount’s New Boss Has One Mission: Make Hollywood Watchable Again

Bari Weiss

Billionaire

Entertainment

Hollywood

Movies

Paramount

Silicon Valley

Tom Cruise

Video Games

For an episode that aired on Sunday evening, UFC President Dana White told CBS&#8217;s &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; that in his mind, there was no such thing as being &#8220;too masculine.&#8221;
White, who spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016 and 2024 and supported President Donald Trump through three campaigns, spoke with correspondent Jon Wertheim about the concept of &#8220;toxic masculinity&#8221; and whether or not the culture was shifting around that idea.
Wertheim began by quoting a term he said White had used in the past, saying that he&#8217;d decried the &#8220;wussification of America&#8221; — and White suggested that the word he&#8217;d used had actually begun with a different letter, but that he understood why that might be censored for broadcast television.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨NEW: Dana White tells &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; there&#8217;s *NO SUCH THING* as being &#8220;TOO MASCULINE&#8221;🤣
&#8220;How can somebody be too masculine? Is that a possibility? Can you be too masculine?&#8221;
&#8220;No! The answer is h*ll no!&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyCaller</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZheAKOIBDW">pic.twitter.com/ZheAKOIBDW</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/1972617926697001125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
White went on to say that the reason the UFC was so successful — and growing — was that they knew their audience and were &#8220;unapologetically masculine.&#8221;
&#8220;Can this bubble over to too much?&#8221; Wertheim asked. &#8220;When you hear toxic masculinity, what do you–&#8221;
&#8220;Haha what’s that mean?&#8221; White laughed as he interrupted Wertheim.
&#8220;You tell me,&#8221; Wertheim challenged.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
&#8220;You just said it,&#8221; White pushed back. &#8220;What’s the definition of ‘toxic’? … How can somebody be too masculine? Can you be too masculine?&#8221;
&#8220;You tell me,&#8221; Wertheim repeated. &#8220;Do you think so?&#8221;
&#8220;No. The answer is hell no,&#8221; White declared.
The UFC is expected to hold an event at the White House in 2026 as part of America&#8217;s 250th birthday festivities — an event that both Trump and White have independently confirmed.
&#8220;We’re literally going to take over Washington, D.C., that week. We’re going to do the weigh-ins there. We’re going to have the weigh-in events. And we’ll have fan events all week. We’re going to do our expo there and just a total Washington, D.C., takeover,&#8221; White said of the planned event.

UFC 290: Whittaker v Du Plessis

‘Hell No!’: UFC Prez Tells ’60 Minutes’ There’s No Such Thing As Being ‘Too Masculine’

Culture

General

Masculinity

Politics

Sports

UFC CEO Dana White announced on Monday that the pay-per-view model is going away following a &#8220;historic deal&#8221; between the UFC and Paramount, which owns CBS.
Paramount announced on Monday morning that it struck a seven-year $7.7 billion deal with the UFC, giving CBS and Paramount+ exclusive broadcast and streaming rights to one of America&#8217;s fastest-growing sports. Under the new deal — which will go into effect next year — Paramount will have access to all 30 UFC Fight Nights, along with 13 additional major UFC events, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/business/paramount-ufc-fights-deal.html">reported</a>. Some of the UFC&#8217;s top matchups will be broadcast on CBS, and all of the fights will be available with a subscription to Paramount+, with no additional pay-per-view fees.
White celebrated the news, writing in a <a href="https://x.com/danawhite/status/1954876574404366488">statement</a>, &#8220;This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model, making it affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform.&#8221;
&#8220;This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world,&#8221; White added. &#8220;The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.&#8221;
The deal marks one of the first major moves from Paramount&#8217;s new CEO, David Ellison, who became the company&#8217;s head honcho just last week after his company, Skydance Media, took over Paramount.
“We could not be more excited about this,” Ellison told the Times. “From my perspective, the U.F.C. is really a unicorn sports asset.”
“We think it is going to be incredibly material in terms of increasing our engagement on Paramount+, driving subscriber acquisitions and also meaningfully growing revenue across the business,” Ellison added.
Since 2019, the UFC has been broadcast and streamed on ESPN and ESPN+. Under that deal, ESPN paid $550 million per year for rights to UFC coverage. The ESPN-UFC streaming model was highly criticized by fans who had to pay both a subscription fee and a pay-per-view fee for the biggest fights. To watch fights on ESPN+, UFC fans were charged a monthly subscription for the Disney streaming service on top of a pay-per-view fee for some of the biggest fights.
Under the UFC-Paramount deal, fans will pay for a Paramount+ subscription, which is $8 per month for a basic subscription or $13 per month for a premium subscription, and there won&#8217;t be any additional fees for marquee fights.
“For our fan base, this is going to be much easier, much more accessible, much less expensive, and something that is going to ultimately attract and keep a lot of subscribers with Paramount+,” said Mark Shapiro, the president of TKO, which owns the UFC.

Goodbye, PPV: Dana White Drops Major UFC Bombshell After ‘Historic Deal’ With CBS

Goodbye, Pay-Per-View: Dana White Drops Major UFC News After 'Historic Deal' With CBS

ESPN

UFC chief Dana White said the card he is planning for an event at the White House will be “the best card we’ve ever done to date.”
White appeared on the Spinnin Backfist podcast on Wednesday to talk about a UFC event he is planning for the lawn of the White House next year. President Donald Trump first announced the event during a July 4 rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
“We’re putting together the renderings. They should be done in the next 10 days, and then we’re going to fly out to the White House and present it to [Trump], see what he likes and what he doesn’t like and start working on it,” White said.
The UFC boss said the White House fight night will be a “one-of-one unique event that will never happen again.”
“I will blow the doors off this thing. I&#8217;m going to make this one of the greatest events of all time,” White said.
Of the fights he has planned for the event, White said, “it&#8217;ll be a full card, and it will be the best card we’ve ever done to date.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UFC at the White House<a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DanaWhite</a>: “This is a one of one, unique event, that will never happen again, and I will blow the doors off this thing. I’ll make this one of the greatest events of all time… It will be the best card we’ve ever done to date.”
H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpinninBackfist</a> <a href="https://t.co/04lY7J1Xg8">pic.twitter.com/04lY7J1Xg8</a>
&mdash; Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47/status/1945294693589508324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump first broke the news of the White House UFC event in front of a cheering crowd in Iowa. The president said he wants the event to take place on July 4 during the United States’ 250th birthday.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House,” Trump <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-trump-white-house-fight-card-2026-rcna216982">said</a>. “We have a lot of land there.”
“Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.
The president added that he expects up to 25,000 people to attend the spectacle.
Trump has long been a fan of UFC and friend to White, its CEO. Trump became the first sitting president to attend a UFC fight when he spectated UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
In succeeding events he has attended, Trump has been met with loud cheers from fans and warm greetings from athletes. In 2023, former UFC star Jorge Masvidal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fans-go-wild-as-trump-appears-at-ufc-fighter-leads-lets-go-brandon-chant">called</a> Trump the “greatest president in the history of the world” before announcing his retirement from the sport.

Dana White Says White House UFC Event ‘Will Be The Best Card We’ve Ever Done’

Executive

U.S.

UFC CEO <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> addressed a packed Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, calling President-elect Donald Trump &#8220;the best human being&#8221; he has &#8220;ever known&#8221; and urging Americans to find common ground and hope for Trump&#8217;s success.
White spoke before Trump took the stage and gave Americans a glimpse into his relationship with the president-elect.
&#8220;Everything great that has ever happened to me in my career, he&#8217;s been the first one to reach out and congratulate me,&#8221; White said of Trump. &#8220;And more importantly, in the hard times, he&#8217;s been the first one to reach out and let me know if there&#8217;s anything I need. And all this during a time when he had a laundry list of his own problems he was dealing with.&#8221;
&#8220;He is the best human being that I have ever known,&#8221; White added.
The longtime friend of Trump then urged Americans to &#8220;put our differences aside,&#8221; adding, &#8220;The fate of this country is tied to the fate of the president, so if you love America, you should want America&#8217;s president to be successful.&#8221;
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&#8220;If he strengthens our economy, resolves conflict around the world, and makes our streets safe again, we all win,&#8221; White added. &#8220;When America&#8217;s president is respected around the world, we all win. When America succeeds, we all win. Now it&#8217;s time for us to come together as one nation: the United States. This moment will be a turning point in our history and a triumph for all Americans.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="‘Best Human Being I Have Ever Known’: UFC CEO Dana White Speaks At Trump Rally" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9OgDI7htgrw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
White was just one of numerous high-profile guests to take the stage at Trump&#8217;s Victory Rally before Trump addressed the crowd. Thousands of Trump&#8217;s supporters remained in D.C. for the rally on Sunday despite the inauguration ceremony on Monday being moved indoors due to harsh weather.

Dana White Praises Trump’s Character, Calls For Americans To Unite Behind America’s Success

Dana White Praises Trump's Character, Calls For Americans To Unite Behind America's Success

Celebrities

Inauguration

Washington D.C.

Donald Trump fan Dana White, the CEO of UFC, has been named to the board of Meta.
Meta recently announced that Republican Joel Kaplan would be replacing leftist Nick Clegg as president of global affairs; Kaplan had been the company&#8217;s vice president of global public policy since 2011. He had also served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under former President George W. Bush.
“I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board,” White <a href="https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/ufc-dana-white-joins-meta-board-1236267467/">said</a>. “I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future. &#8230; I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”
“Dana is the President and CEO of UFC, and he has built it into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November after Trump’s election, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/technology/dana-white-meta-board-ufc.html">stated</a>. “I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.”
Trump honored White by choosing him to nominate Trump for the presidency at the Republican National Convention. White noted that when Trump asked White to nominate him, Trump said, “I only wish you didn’t have to interrupt your family trip, but I hope they understand. They love you and they know how important this is.”
“Now, think about this,” White suggested. “This man’s running for President of the United States. He’s fighting for the future of this country, and he’s concerned about interrupting my family trip. That’s the President Trump that I know. A man who truly cares about people. The mainstream media likes to push the narrative that he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I absolutely know that’s not the truth because I’ve been friends with this guy for 25 years.”
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“I’m in the tough guy business, and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being that I’ve ever met in my life,” White said. “The higher the stakes, the harder he fights, and this guy never ever gives up. So what’s at stake here? The answer is that in President Trump’s text and I quote, ‘A fight for our country.’”
“I know he is running for president to save our American dream,” White declared. “I’m living the American dream and I know the American dream is very real. Whether you were born in this country or came here from someplace else, this is the last real land of opportunity.
“This election, we all get to choose,” he said. “I know I’m going to choose strength and security. I know I’m going to choose opportunity and prosperity. I know I’m going to choose real American leadership and a real American bada**.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zuckerberg-says-meta-restoring-free-speech-will-get-rid-of-fact-checkers">Zuckerberg Says Meta &#8216;Restoring Free Speech,&#8217; Will &#8216;Get Rid Of Fact-Checkers&#8217;</a>

UFC Fight Night: Dern v Yan

Zuckerberg Chooses Dana White For Board Of Meta

Mark Zuckerberg

UFC CEO Dana White Declares He Is Done With Politics: ‘I Want Nothing To Do With This S***’

Media

UFC President Dana White spoke about his friendship with former President Donald Trump on Thursday night during his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
White said he received a call from Trump two weeks ago asking if he would be willing to speak at the event and that the former president was concerned about interrupting the time White spent with his family.
&#8220;He&#8217;s fighting for the future of this country and he&#8217;s concerned about interrupting my family trip. That&#8217;s the President Trump that I know. A man who truly cares about people,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The mainstream media likes to push the narrative that he doesn&#8217;t care about anyone but himself. I absolutely know that&#8217;s not the truth because I&#8217;ve been friends with this guy for 25 years. And for the people who know me, they&#8217;ll know this is true.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m in the tough guy business and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being that I&#8217;ve ever met in my life,&#8221; he later added. &#8220;The higher the stakes, the harder he fights and this guy never ever gives up. So what&#8217;s at stake here? The answer is in President Trump&#8217;s text and I quote &#8216;a fight for our country&#8217;.&#8221;
White said that Trump &#8220;is a proven leader, a fearless leader, and this country was in a much better place when he was in the Oval Office.&#8221;
He also called Trump &#8220;a real American bad*ss,&#8221; which comes just days after Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danawhite</a> on the choice Americans will make this fall:
“I know I’m gonna choose strength and security. I know I’m gonna choose opportunity and prosperity. I know I’m gonna choose real American leadership and a real American badass.” <a href="https://t.co/dTwEAKxlkw">pic.twitter.com/dTwEAKxlkw</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1814131442210775511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote>

Dana White At The Republican National Convention: Trump’s ‘A Real American Bad*ss’

Elections

Milwaukee

Republican National Convention

Wisconsin

Comedian and HBO host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bill-maher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill Maher</a> laid into the anti-Israel protesters on college campuses like Columbia University — where students vandalized and took over a campus building on Tuesday — and said that as they keep &#8220;marching for Hamas,&#8221; they also keep missing the point with regard to what they should be protesting.
During a conversation with UFC president Dana White on his &#8220;Club Random&#8221; podcast, Maher noted that there were plenty of issues in the Middle East that might be far more worthy of protest than Israel.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dana White | Club Random with Bill Maher" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZloTRb42ncg?start=1383&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;The Afghanistan culture — part of it — is we found out when we invaded and stayed there for 20 years. There are rich men who have, like, 10-year-old boys. That’s just a thing &#8212; like — you can get when you’re a rich guy; so keep marching for Hamas, kids. You really got your liberal eyes on the right prize here,&#8221; he said.
Maher went on to note that some of the protesters had even cheered on Iran when the world&#8217;s number one state sponsor of terror fired directly on Israel.
&#8220;Now they’re cheering for Iran because they just fired all the missiles at Israel. So Iran is the good guys? You mean, the Ayatollah, the f***ing black-hearted, black-eyed, bomb-planting dude that we — captured our people?&#8221; Maher continued.
Maher concluded by saying that the protesters were doing little to help Democrats – especially as the 2024 presidential election loomed closer — because they were likely to repel centrists
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&#8220;I keep trying to tell the Left this every week. Like — the more you do crazy sh**, the more you push the people in the middle to the Right,&#8221; Maher explained.
Maher then asked White what his politics were when he was younger, and the UFC president said that he would have called himself &#8220;very liberal.&#8221;
When asked whether he changed or the parties changed, White&#8217;s response was simple: &#8220;It&#8217;s a little bit of both &#8230; I&#8217;m for common sense.&#8221;

Larry King’s Toast to 50 Years in Broadcasting

‘Keep Marching For Hamas, Kids’: Bill Maher Says Campus Protesters Just Don’t Get It

'Keep Marching For Hamas, Kids': Bill Maher Says Campus Protesters Just Don't Get It

Bill Maher

Hamas

Israel

Protests

Former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> appeared at UFC 299 in Miami on Saturday after holding a campaign rally in Georgia.
With <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kid-rock-blasts-bud-light-for-partnering-with-trans-activist-dylan-mulvaney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock star Kid Rock</a>&#8216;s &#8220;American Badass&#8221; playing, Trump walked into the Kaseya Center alongside UFC CEO Dana White to loud cheers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DONALD TRUMP IS IN THE BUILDING! 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC299?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC299</a> | Live on TNT Sports &amp; discovery+ <a href="https://t.co/17fpb0T7bA">pic.twitter.com/17fpb0T7bA</a>
&mdash; UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufcontnt/status/1766671762614321265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-was-a-legend-megan-fox-talks-trump-at-rowdy-ufc-arena" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fan of UFC</a> and having attended various fights over the years, Trump was joined at Saturday&#8217;s event by his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. A <a href="https://www.ufc.com/news/main-card-results-highlights-winner-interviews-ufc-299-omalley-vs-vera-2#:~:text=on%20the%20roster.-,Sean%20O'Malley%20defeats%20Marlon%20Vera%20by%20unanimous%20decision%20(50,to%20close%20out%20UFC%20299." target="_blank" rel="noopener">number of fights</a> took place in the octagon, including Sean O’Malley <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39698333/sean-omalley-puts-show-routs-marlon-vera-ufc-299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeating</a> Marlon “Chito” Vera in the main event.
<a href="https://twitter.com/stephaniealai/status/1766676814900936921">According</a> to a Bloomberg reporter, at one point of the event, the crowd chanted &#8220;F*** Joe Biden.&#8221;
The former president posed for <a href="https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1766719449107743066" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photos</a> with Daily Wire host Candace Owens and NFL players Nick Bosa and Joe Burrow. Trump was also seen shaking hands with Barstool Sports founder <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1766676789722599700" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dave Portnoy</a> and former ESPN host <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonMillerinDC/status/1766672308515524738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sage Steele</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It’s fight night. Fighters only. <a href="https://twitter.com/PBDsPodcast?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PBDsPodcast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danawhite</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ufc</a> <a href="https://t.co/fCQtzzVBCm">pic.twitter.com/fCQtzzVBCm</a>
&mdash; Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO/status/1766674295298650230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, Nick Bosa, and Joe Burrow at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC299?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC299</a> in Miami, Florida… <a href="https://t.co/VUz3lBdfqR">pic.twitter.com/VUz3lBdfqR</a>
&mdash; Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1766719449107743066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Steele <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/longtime-espn-anchor-who-criticized-covid-mandates-leaving-network-to-exercise-first-amendment-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parted ways</a> with ESPN last year after settling a lawsuit that alleged the network retaliated against her for making negative comments about COVID vaccine mandates and former President Barack Obama.
Trump is in the middle of running another campaign for the White House. After a dominant performance on Super Tuesday, Trump all but secured the GOP nomination when Nikki Haley dropped out of the race.
In Rome, Georgia, earlier on Saturday, Trump talked about the <a href="https://twitter.com/MAGAIncWarRoom/status/1766602411701879019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">election</a> and said he would <a href="https://twitter.com/MAGAIncWarRoom/status/1766608390392873141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;demand justice&#8221;</a> for Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant in Georgia last month.
He also spoke about the UFC, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ufc/article-13178755/Donald-Trump-UFC-299-Dana-White-Sean-OMalley.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the Daily Mail</a>. &#8220;It&#8217;s the closest thing I can see really reflective of the election process that we have in this country, the UFC fights,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;That may be a little tamer than the election business.&#8221;
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Trump gave a shout-out to White, who last year <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dana-white-tells-ufc-sponsor-go-f-yourself-when-asked-to-delete-social-media-post-about-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> comedian and podcaster Theo Von that he once told one of the sponsors for his mixed martial arts organization to “go f*** yourself” when directed by the unnamed company to remove a post on his personal social media account that included Trump.
&#8220;Dana White has done a great job,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I hope he doesn&#8217;t run for office against me. He&#8217;s done a fantastic job. It&#8217;s an easier business than politics.&#8221;

Donald Trump with daughter Ivanka

Trump Attends UFC 299 With Daughter Ivanka After Georgia Rally

2024 Election

Ivanka Trump

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