President Donald Trump has found a new role for his daughter Ivanka in his second administration—Ultimate Fighting Championship event coordinator for a historic White House bout.
The 43-year-old former senior adviser, who largely dropped out of the political spotlight after being front and center during her father's first presidency, is now spearheading plans for the first UFC fight ever held on White House grounds.
"When [Trump] called me and asked me to do it, he said, 'I want Ivanka in the middle of this,'" UFC CEO Dana White revealed on CBS Mornings Tuesday. "So Ivanka reached out to me, and her and I started talking about the possibilities, where it would be and, you know, I put together all the renderings."
The president, a devoted UFC fan who has attended multiple fights cage-side with his eldest daughter, has been floating the White House fight concept for months. White confirmed the event will take place July 4, 2026, launching America's 250th birthday celebration.
"It is definitely going to happen," declared White, whose influence with young male voters reportedly helped Trump's 2024 victory. CBS News confirmed a White House source verified the event planning.
Ivanka's return marks a dramatic shift after her self-imposed political exile. Following four years as a senior adviser managing economic initiatives, she rejected involvement in Trump's 2024 campaign, citing the "darkness" of politics.
"I love policy and impact. I hate politics. And unfortunately, the two are not separable," she explained on the Him & Her podcast before Trump's January inauguration. "I know the cost, and it's a price that I'm not willing to make my kids bear."
While Trump weathered controversies and global tensions, Ivanka maintained distance, attending elite social events like Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venice wedding. However, the opportunity to organize a groundbreaking sports spectacle—with guidance from her casino-owning father who previously hosted UFC events—apparently proved irresistible for the mother of three.