Trump hails Justin Gaethje as “great fighter” after UFC title win at the White House

Trump celebrated Justin Gaethje's UFC World Championship victory with a photo at the front door of the White House on Truth Social.

First Published: July 5, 2026, 9:39 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald Trump praised UFC fighter Justin Gaethje at the White House after his world championship victory, by mentioning the source (see truthsocial) on a Truth Social post on July 5, 2026 at 4:25 PM EST.

Here is the full post on [truthsocial]: “Justin Gaethje after his Big Victory, and attaining the UFC World Championship, at the front door of the White House. He is a Great Fighter! Trump”

Justin Gaethje recently became the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion after defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, an unprecedented event held at the White House (see si.com). The fight card marked the first time a major UFC event took place on the grounds of the executive mansion, drawing attention from both combat sports fans and political observers (see latimes.com).

Gaethje, a 37-year-old fighter from Safford, Arizona, has long been regarded as one of the most exciting competitors in the UFC lightweight division (see wikipedia.org). His knockout power and relentless pressure style have earned him a devoted following, and the championship belt now cements his place among the sport’s elite. The victory over Topuria was widely viewed as one of the signature moments of his career (see thenews.com.pk).

Trump’s post included a photo described as showing Gaethje at the front door of the White House. The president signed the post “Trump,” underscoring his personal endorsement of the fighter. Trump has maintained a longstanding relationship with the UFC and its leadership, having attended multiple events and hosted fighters at the White House during both of his terms in office.

The UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House drew both praise and criticism, with supporters calling it a celebration of American combat sports and detractors questioning the use of the White House as a venue for a pay-per-view fight card. UFC President Dana White has been a vocal supporter of Trump and played a prominent role at several of his political rallies and events.

In the last 30 days, 43 of 540 Trump posts on Truth Social were on the topic of “Culture,” reflecting the president’s continued engagement with sports, entertainment, and cultural figures on the platform.