Bryce Mitchell used a Wednesday media appearance to blast the Trump administration’s plan for a White House UFC card, saying the government should “protect us, not entertain us” and arguing that public money and resources should not go toward a fight night on the South Lawn. His comments came as he prepares to fight Santiago Luna at UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Bryce Mitchell slams Freedom 250 White House UFC card during World War 3
Arkansas’ Bryce Mitchell blasted the UFC White House Freedom 250 event, speaking to Sneako, he said:
“It’s bullsh*t… this nation’s not about cage fighters. This nation’s about freedom. They’re taking our finest resources in the middle of World War 3 and dedicating it to a sporting event. We’re bombing innocent children in another country, and instead of focusing on that… ‘oh we’re gonna have a birthday party for Donald Trump. It’s not fair that the government does that, on our taxes and our resources.”
Mitchell’s next bout is a bantamweight matchup against Santiago Luna, who stepped in on short notice for the June 6 card. Mitchell enters the week with an 18-4 record, and his recent run has included a win over Said Nurmagomedov after a loss to Jean Silva. For Mitchell, it adds a layer to an already tense fight week, because his White House comments landed while he was still cutting weight and taking questions about the event.
The White House card, set for June 14, 2026, has drawn attention because it is planned as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations and tied closely to President Donald Trump. Trump said the UFC event would take place on the White House grounds on his 80th birthday. Critics have questioned whether a combat sports event belongs at a federal landmark, and some have raised concerns about public money, security, and the symbolism of staging a fight during a wartime climate. Dana White has defended the plan, saying the card is meant as a patriotic celebration rather than a political move.
Mitchell’s latest rant is only the newest chapter in a long line of controversy. In January 2025, he drew broad condemnation after saying Hitler was “a good guy,” denying the Holocaust, and making antisemitic and homophobic remarks on his podcast. Dana White called those comments “beyond disgusting” and “dumb, ignorant,” and Mitchell later posted an apology saying he did not intend to offend anyone and did not condone Hitler’s actions. Since then, Mitchell has remained one of the UFC’s most polarizing figures.
The US-born Mitchell criticized a government-backed spectacle at the same moment he remains a controversial UFC name with a history that still follows him into every media scrum.
