The Pentagon has decreed that only fit members of the military may attend the White House Ultimate Fighting Championship fight scheduled for next month.
The fight, referred to as UFC Freedom 250, is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, and will be the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House. It’ll coincide with America’s 250th birthday.
However, a Pentagon memo reviewed by NBC News “states that service members who receive tickets to the big fighting event on the South Lawn must meet a waist-to-height ratio of less than 0.55, ‘as well as all service-specific physical fitness test requirements.'”
In short, “no fatties” allowed:
CNN learning “no fat soldiers” will be invited to Trump’s WH UFC fights. Sources say they must “look good” on camera, meet weight standards, and they have to pay their own way there. pic.twitter.com/xeXRD3iV9y
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) May 30, 2026
A CNN correspondent later explained these requirements further.
“What that means is that for a male service member who’s 5’9, the maximum waist size for that person if they’re going to be admitted to this event would be 37 inches,” they said. “For a female service member who’s 5’4, her maximum waist size should be 35 inches or less if they’re going to be admitted to this event.”
“According to one [War] official, this sends a very clear message to any attendees who are interested in attending this event — ‘no fatties.’ Another [War] official said senior Pentagon leaders are signaling their preference for military members who will look good on camera, and that person said again, basically, no fat soldiers would be admitted to this event,” they added.
According to NBC News, while all fit military members are eligible to attend the event, the Department of War won’t cover their travel costs. In addition, the department will prioritize genuine UFC fans.
“Tickets must be distributed to genuine UFC fans, not solely by high-ranking [distinguished visitors],” the Pentagon memo reviewed by the network reads.
The War Department is reportedly trying to recruit a specific type of military member for the June 14 fight.
“Officials are seeking junior enlisted personnel and junior officers specifically,” The Washington Post has confirmed, adding that the department has in recent days “solicited troops across the services to attend the June 14 event.”
The Pentagon is recruiting junior enlisted troops and junior officers to attend Trump’s UFC event at the White House in uniform, while requiring them to cover their own travel and lodging costs.
The personnel being recruited come from the military’s lowest-paid ranks. pic.twitter.com/EvnLx1ZOwO
— WarMonitor (@TheWarMonitor) May 29, 2026
While the UFC is giving away 85,000 free tickets so that people can watch the fight for free at The Ellipse, the park directly across from the White House, only 4,000 or so people will be able to enter the South Lawn arena to view the fight in person.
UFC chief Dana White previously said in interviews that the whole event would cost his company $30 million to stage, but defended it as an act of patriotism.
“I love this country like anybody on the left loves this country. I love this country like anybody on the right loves this country,” he said. “This is basically me spending a shitload of money to celebrate the 250th birthday of America, with America and the rest of the world.”
The major concern is security. Podcaster Joe Rogan has rightly speculated that the fight will be a “security nightmare.” It doesn’t help that the fight will be outdoors.
“I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all,” Rogan previously said. “I think it should be inside an air-conditioned arena. … You wouldn’t ask them to play a world championship basketball game outside in the sun.”
Mark Normand: “Why are you not looking forward to the White House [UFC Freedom 250] fight?”
Joe Rogan: “It’s kind of a gimmick… It’s just going to be a security nightmare. You’re on the White House lawn. Also, they’re fighting outside. What if it rains? What if it’s hot?…… pic.twitter.com/3TSHt3SEdF
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 22, 2026
White has also complained about the fight being outdoors.
“There’s two things I hate. I hate stadiums, and even worse than a stadium is fighting outside,” he previously said.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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