President Donald Trump’s plan to host a UFC event at the White House has divided Republican voters, a new poll shows. The survey comes as preparations continue for the controversial UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn.
Even Republicans are split on Donald Trump’s White House UFC event in new poll
The Reuters/Ipsos poll of 4,531 US adults found that just 16% of Americans believe holding mixed martial arts matches at the presidential residence is appropriate. Nearly half, 46%, said it was inappropriate, while the remainder offered no view.
The findings present a rare fracture within the president’s own party. Although roughly eight in ten Republicans approve of Trump’s overall job performance, only 31% backed the UFC plan. More than a fifth of GOP voters, 22%, actively opposed it, and 36% chose neither option, suggesting uncertainty rather than acceptance.
Furthermore, among Democrats, opposition was near-universal, as 75% called the event inappropriate, with just 5% in support. Independent voters also leaned heavily against the idea, with 45% deeming it unsuitable and only 11% backing it.
Donald Trump has scheduled the cage-fighting spectacle for his 80th birthday, folding it into broader celebrations of 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. Fighters will compete inside a 28-metre-tall octagonal structure, using fists, feet, knees and elbows under limited protective gear.
Critics have challenged the event in court, pointing out that sporting contests are prohibited on the South Lawn. They also argue that the metal arena being constructed lacks the required planning approval. The administration this week asked a judge to dismiss the legal challenge.
For more context, the president’s ties to UFC stretch back more than two decades, when his now-defunct Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City hosted early fight cards. UFC chief executive Dana White has since become a close Trump ally, appearing at campaign rallies and speaking at Republican conventions.
The new poll carries a margin of error of two percentage points for the full sample and three points for party subgroups.
