Key facts
- UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland claims he has been banned from attending a White House event.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland alleges he has been barred from a White House event due to his criticisms of Donald Trump, Israel, and Jeffrey Epstein. UFC officials reportedly informed him he was not cleared to attend.
The alleged ban highlights potential political influence over official events and raises questions about the intersection of sports, politics, and free speech, particularly concerning criticisms directed at the current administration and its allies.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland claims he has been barred from attending a UFC event on the White House south lawn due to his public criticisms of Donald Trump, Israel, and Jeffrey Epstein. Strickland wrote on X that he was informed by UFC officials that he was not cleared by the White House to attend the June 14 event.
Strickland, who recently reclaimed his title, stated that his exclusion stemmed from his remarks, including calling Trump "owned by" Benjamin Netanyahu and making light of Israel and Epstein. He previously expressed disillusionment with Trump's foreign policy decisions.
UFC CEO Dana White, however, dismissed the ban allegations, calling them absurd and stating that "everybody's banned apparently." The White House and UFC have not responded to requests for comment.
The event, scheduled for Flag Day and Trump's 80th birthday, has drawn scrutiny. The watchdog group Public Integrity Project has filed a lawsuit alleging federal laws were broken to accommodate the commercial sporting event. Financial disclosures indicate Trump purchased up to $50,000 in stock for TKO Group Holdings, UFC's parent company, earlier this year.