McGregor claims $100 million offer and 100 Golden Visas for White House UFC spectacle

In a development that would place sport and politics on a shared stage, Conor McGregor says he has been offered $100 million to take part in a White House UFC spectacle, along with 100 Golden Visas for himself and his family and friends. The proposed event would take place on the South Lawn of the White House as part of plans unveiled last week by President Donald Trump to stage a high-profile fight night in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Dana White, the UFC chief executive and a Trump ally, was seen entering the White House earlier this month to pitch the idea.

McGregor, who has teased a return to the Octagon since his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, wrote on X that the offer included a $100 million fee and 100 Golden Visas. The 37-year-old also shared clips of himself training and asserted that he would fight bare knuckle and unleash a sharper, more venomous performance than in the past. The plans were described as a spectacle for the ages by organizers and included concept art showing the White House lit in red, white and blue and a UFC octagon set on the South Lawn.

People involved in the planning told the Wall Street Journal the event would take place in June 2026. The first AI-generated images of the spectacle depicted a dramatic stage outside the White House, with lighting and color displays for broadcasts. One image showed a UFC ring in the middle of a makeshift arena with the White House as the backdrop, while another imagined weigh-ins and press conferences near the Lincoln Memorial, which is undergoing renovations for a new museum and visitors’ center. Trump announced that he and UFC chief Dana White had reached an agreement for the historic event to take place, underscoring the White House setting as part of the broader celebration plan.

The logistical vision includes a staged weigh-in and media events outside the Lincoln Memorial, a site selection prompted by renovations and the goal of yielding a national spectacle that could draw global attention. Organizers described a scene where tens of thousands of would-be spectators could access a viewing area surrounding a boundary within the grounds, while a smaller, tightly controlled arena on the South Lawn would house a few thousand attendees. UFC president White has said the card would be among the greatest ever assembled, noting that McGregor has shown a strong appetite for a comeback and that the White House project has provided motivation.

Attendance details place a ceiling on in-person turnout for the built venue, with officials indicating fewer than 5,000 fans would be allowed inside the makeshift arena. However, as many as 85,000 could potentially access a viewing zone outside the ring, depending on security, logistics and permits. The dual approach aims to maximize reach while maintaining a controlled environment for a production of unprecedented scale. White added that the team would strive to assemble a lineup that could live up to the hype, reflecting on McGregor’s stated intent to return to competition at a level that could captivate a broad audience.

Reaction to the plans has been swift on social media, with fans and observers dubbing the event a historic spectacle and predicting the high price of admission could set new records for sports events. Some commenters highlighted the audacity of staging a UFC event at a national landmark, while others questioned the feasibility and optics of combining sport, politics and celebrity in such a setting. The project, still in its planning stages, has drawn attention for its potential to redefine the scale and staging of mixed martial arts and to test the boundaries of sports diplomacy in the United States.

The broader context includes Trump’s push to leverage high-profile events in Washington, D.C., as part of a broader strategy of national branding around a landmark anniversary. McGregor’s public statements, while not independently verified, have added to the anticipation, as the UFC and its leadership navigate a historically sensitive environment in which sports events intersect with government venues and public policy symbolism. If realized, the White House spectacle would mark a turning point for the sport and could influence how future major events are staged, produced and marketed on unconventional stages. As planning continues, authorities and organizers are expected to release further details on dates, security protocols, broadcast arrangements and ticketing conclusions. The timeline remains subject to formal approvals and logistical constraints, but the prospect of a White House UFC event in mid-2026 has already entered the national conversation as a landmark moment for the sport of mixed martial arts.