Ukrainian boxing champion Usyk meets with President Trump at White House

Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on June 12, 2026. The meeting was documented by presidential communications adviser Margo Martin, who shared a photo on X, though details of their discussion were not immediately disclosed.

The encounter follows Usyk's recent successful defense of his heavyweight world title against Dutch boxer Rico Verhoeven. Usyk, who remains undefeated in his professional career, has consistently used his international platform to advocate for Ukraine and draw attention to the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speculation about Usyk's potential political future in Ukraine has been fueled by his own ambiguous statements. While he previously stated in 2025 that he did not wish to be a politician, he indicated in March 2026 that he would only be interested in an office as high as the presidency. An Ipsos poll released in February found Usyk's approval rating at 56%, ranking second highest in Ukraine behind former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

The White House is also scheduled to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on June 14. President Trump has a history of engagement with combat sports, including past cameo appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programming before his presidency.