Who's paying for the UFC White House show?
Could an America250 scandal derail Trump's taxpayer gift to Dana White?
This is not normal, and it’s OK to call it out for what it is.
We are witnessing the beginning stages of US President Donald Trump’s grandiose America250 campaign, which is also serving as a professional lifeline to Dana White.
A lifeline that Dana White really could use in this brave new TKO corporate world where he is struggling to fit in. A lifeline worth tens of millions of dollars for TKO. I just don’t expect to see such a figure reported for an event gate.
UFC White House is going to attract the world’s richest people, congregating with politicians eager to be bought and paid for. The big money will be spent outside the parameters of the show.
Follow the Money
News is breaking in The Daily Mail that the 25-year-old appointee overseeing the America250 campaign has reportedly been fired.
America250 is a campaign operated under the auspices of the US Semiquincentennial Commission. This commission receives money through Federal budget appropriations and private donations.
In Fiscal Years 2023 & 2024, the commission reportedly received two $15M appropriations.
In Fiscal Year 2025, this commission is asking for a $100M appropriation. Here’s the formal request:
“As we approach 2026, America250 will need Congress’s ongoing commitment to help create the enthusiasm and momentum required across all corners of our nation to execute a 250th anniversary worthy of the American people. With two more fiscal years left, we are scaling our latest appropriations request to $100 million to align with our ambitious programming.”
That’s how you build a campaign for a UFC White House event to celebrate 250 years of America. 100 million reasons for Dana White and Ari Emanuel to get excited.
The official public relations arm of The White House is advertising UFC White House pictures like they’re pitching artist renderings of a new baseball stadium in Las Vegas. Steven Cheung is working overtime, isn’t he?
Here’s an open secret: the American taxpayer is going to be paying for this charade, like it or not.
Don’t expect Democrats on the House Oversight committee to say a word, either. They’re scared of Ari Emanuel. The loudest bark from Democrats will involve some screaming about “Hatch Act!” violations.
Let us lay out the case on our expectations for how much the American taxpayer is going to be paying for this UFC White House event. Then we’ll give you a sneak peek at some of the foreign governments who may be very interested spectators cageside.