Overview

• Trump made the announcement Thursday at an America 250 celebration event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
• The White House press secretary confirmed the plan and called the proposal “dead serious.”
• UFC officials say event logistics remain under discussion, including pay-per-view options, broadcast plans and venue layout.
• Trump’s longstanding alliance with UFC CEO Dana White dates back to his 2001 hosting of UFC 30 and UFC 31 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
• The announcement underscores the president’s strategy of leveraging sports entertainment to bolster his public profile.