Dana White recalls how Biden's granddaughter bailed on UFC event after learning Trump would attend

WASHINGTON, DC: Dana White says one of former President Joe Biden's granddaughters once left a UFC event after finding out President Donald Trump was expected to attend.

The UFC CEO shared the story during a recent interview with Time magazine while discussing some of the unusual moments he has witnessed during his years running the mixed martial arts promotion.

According to White, the granddaughter was already at the event when she learned Trump would be making an appearance.

“When I found that out, I said to the Secret Service, ‘Bring her to me.’ I’d love to meet her, treat her with the respect,” White recalled. “Apparently, she left when she heard that President Trump was coming.”

White did not identify which of Biden's granddaughters he was referring to and did not disclose which UFC event the incident allegedly occurred at. The Biden family has not publicly commented on the claim.

Trump’s UFC fixation

Trump is a familiar figure cageside at UFC events, with his appearances often generating nearly as much attention as the fights themselves.

Whether attending a major pay-per-view event or a Fight Night card, Trump is frequently greeted by loud cheers from fans inside the arena. Television broadcasts also regularly cut to him throughout the night, making him one of the most recognizable non-fighters in attendance.

White has often praised the President's support of the sport. But as the UFC prepares for one of its most ambitious events yet, White acknowledged some concerns about the plan.

Trump recently proposed staging a UFC fight on the White House lawn as part of celebrations marking the nation's 250th anniversary. White has been tasked with overseeing the June 14 event and has described it as a historic opportunity to bring Americans together.

Still, he admitted that holding fights outdoors comes with challenges.

“There’s two things I hate,” White said during an NPR Newsmakers episode. “I hate stadiums, and I hate even worse than a stadium is fighting outside. There’s just so many different variables you have to deal with, you know, the weather, and you know the worst, obviously, being rain and lightning, yeah, and then bugs, and you know temperatures.”

Joe Rogan has concerns over outdoor White House bout

Not everyone associated with the UFC is sold on the idea.

Podcast host Joe Rogan, who has served as a UFC commentator for years, raised concerns during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

“I don’t like the idea of fighting outside at all,” Rogan said, pointing to concerns about Washington, D.C.'s summer heat, as well as bugs, pesticides, and dehydration. “That’s hot as f***.”

Rogan warned that extreme temperatures could impact the outcome of fights.

“Imagine if someone loses a fight because it’s too hot out,” he said. “Imagine if that becomes a factor. Imagine the dehydrated fighters, like the dehydrated fighters that are now being forced 24 hours later to fight in 100-degree heat outside.”

He also suggested organizers should take additional precautions.

Rogan said the least organizers could do is “build a f***ing roof” over the venue currently under construction on White House grounds. Construction on the massive "claw" stage began Monday.