Podcaster Joe Rogan has described the upcoming UFC fight at the White House as “weird” given the ongoing US-Israeli strikes against Iran. The event, UFC Freedom 250, is set for June 14 on the South Lawn to mark America’s 250th birthday, which also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The main event will feature lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim champion Justin Gaethje.
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan expressed concern that the high-profile event could become a target if the conflict continues. “I know it’s going to be very high security and high stress and weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a f***ing war,” he said. He added that he hoped the war would be resolved by June but was not confident.
Rogan, who previously endorsed Trump and appeared alongside him at UFC events, has recently broken with the president on several issues, including immigration and the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Earlier this week, he criticised the Iran war, saying it contradicted Trump’s campaign promise to end “stupid, senseless wars”.
The Trump administration has given mixed signals on the war’s duration. Trump told Axios that strikes would end “soon” as there is “practically nothing left to target”, while the US military reported hitting about 6,000 targets. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 77% of American voters believe a terrorist attack in the US is likely due to the conflict, and 55% do not think Iran posed an imminent threat before the strikes.
