Joe Rogan Bashes Trump's White House UFC Event: ‘I Don't Like It'

Podcaster and mixed martial arts commentator Joe Rogan slammed President Donald Trump’s plan to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout at the White House to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, calling it “odd.”

During Wednesday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan criticized the June 14 event that will feature a 5,000-seat arena and octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as well as Trump’s 80th birthday.

“The White House thing is odd,” Rogan told guests Josh Thompson and “Big” John McCarthy, two MMA veterans. “I don’t like it. I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all.”

Thompson agreed, acknowledging the “problems” with the unorthodox setup.

“And then there’s June, and it’s D.C., and we looked it up,” Rogan said. “The last time, like last year, same day, was 100 degrees. Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, hot as f***.”

McCarthy, a longtime UFC referee, mentioned the need for additional lighting, which will likely attract insects during the summer event.

“What are you gonna do? Like, how are you gonna stop the bugs?” Rogan continued. “I just don’t think that you should compete in a world championship fight in a non-controlled environment. Yeah, I think it should be inside an air-conditioned arena. It should be a controlled environment, just like every-like, you don’t ask someone to do any of that. You wouldn’t ask them to play a world championship basketball game outside in the sun. That would be crazy.”

Rogan called on the Trump administration to build a roof for the cage currently being constructed at the White House. Trump has said the $60 million event, which will be paid for by the UFC, will feature a 5,000-seat arena, a red, white and blue stage, a massive arch with stars and stripes and large screens to broadcast the bouts.

“Yeah, build a roof,” Rogan said. “Like, you’ve got all the money in the world, right?”

Rogan endorsed Trump in the 2024 election and has supported the president through much of his second term, most recently appearing in the Oval Office as Trump signed his executive order on the psychedelic drug ibogaine. However, he has broken with Trump on a number of issues, including opposing the war in Iran and criticizing the release of the Epstein files and federal immigration enforcement operations.

Prominent Democrats have also condemned the event, insisting it blurs the line between official government functions and campaign‑style entertainment, although Trump has said he considers it to be a celebration of American history.

"Mr. President, we just want lower gas prices,” California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office recently wrote on X in response to photographs showing construction at the White House.

“Trump is building a golden ballroom and for his birthday party - arranging a UFC fight on the White House grounds - while you’re fighting to pay this month’s bills,” Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, wrote on X. “Could he be more out of touch?”

Representative Jared Huffman, another California Democrat, also derided the White House’s UFC event, which will feature two championship fights between Brazil's Alex Pereira and France's Ciryl Gane, as well as Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria versus American Justin Gaethje.

“You’re paying more for groceries,” Huffman wrote on X. “More for gas. More for healthcare. All while Trump is spending your money on a gaudy 250-foot arch by Arlington Cemetery, a UFC cage on the South Lawn, and tearing down the East Wing to build his ballroom. This needs to stop.”

The White House dismissed the critiques in a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday.

“Dumocrats are opposed to anything that celebrates the greatness of our Country because they are America Last losers,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said. “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America's monumental 250th anniversary.”

Trump seems undeterred by the public criticism.

“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets," Trump said recently of demand for the UFC event at the White House. “That’s gonna be something.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 10:44 AM.