UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has claimed he was barred from attending Sunday's fight card at the White House because he dared to criticize Donald Trump, Israel, and Jeffrey Epstein. Strickland, the only current American men's UFC champion, wrote on X that he was informed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that the White House had not cleared him to attend the event.
According to Strickland, a UFC official initially said he would resolve the issue, and the UFC filmed the interaction. However, he later received a call stating he was not cleared by the White House. When a fan asked for specifics, Strickland replied: "I made fun of Israel and Epstein." In a subsequent post, he added: "The only male American champ banned at the White House because I said Trump is owned by [Benjamin Netanyahu]. That's not public opinion, it's fact."
Strickland, born in California, recently reclaimed the middleweight title with a split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev in May in Newark, New Jersey. He is the only undisputed men's title holder in the UFC, aside from Burmese champion Joshua Van, who moved to Houston, Texas, as a teenager. Strickland was once among Trump's most vocal supporters in combat sports but publicly soured on the US president after last year's US strikes on Iran. He wrote: "I stopped supporting Trump after Israel made him bomb Iran the first time. Trump 'stop bombing Iran' Israel 'Trump we need your bombers' Trump 'yes papa BB [Netanyahu] I got you.'"
Strickland's grievances appear to resonate with a significant portion of the US public. A June poll from the Economist/YouGov found that 68% of Americans want a deal to end the war with Iran as soon as possible, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll released today found only 10% of respondents believe the Trump administration has properly helped deliver justice in cases connected to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
Earlier this week, UFC chief executive Dana White dismissed Strickland's allegation. "Of course, Sean Strickland isn't [banned]," White told reporters on Tuesday. "Sean Strickland is banned from humanity. We don't want him near any human beings anywhere." Casting the wider narrative as absurd, White added: "Everybody's banned apparently. Apparently f***ing everybody is banned." The White House and the UFC did not respond to a request for comment.
UFC Freedom 250 is set for 14 June on the south lawn of the White House, a date that coincides with Flag Day and Trump's 80th birthday. Over the weekend, the watchdog group Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit arguing the administration broke multiple federal laws to accommodate what it described as a "deeply corrupt" private, commercial sporting event dressed up as a patriotic celebration. Trump's financial disclosures also show he bought up to $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, the UFC's parent company, earlier this year.
While 4,300 military personnel are expected to attend, the event remains a coveted ticket among Washington power brokers, with donors, lobbyists, and members of Congress jostling for seats. However, the weather may yet have the final word: the National Weather Service forecast for Washington DC on Sunday currently shows a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, around the time the main event is scheduled to begin.
Strickland has a history of making racist, sexist, and homophobic comments. He has said: "There's nothing wrong with women. They do great things. They cook, they clean." He also attacked Bad Bunny's performance at this year's Super Bowl, saying: "Why don't we bring in a gay foreigner who doesn't speak f***ing English and have him perform." Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, a US territory, and speaks fluent English.
