Mamdani Recalls Unexpected UFC Showcase During Cordial White House Visit
NYC mayor-elect says the strangest moment of his meeting with President Trump was discovering a coffee-table book previewing a 2026 UFC event on the White House lawn
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has described the most surprising detail from his recent visit to the White House: a glossy coffee-table book previewing next summer’s planned UFC event on the South Lawn.
Mamdani, who met President Donald Trump last week for what both sides characterised as a constructive and good-natured discussion, shared the anecdote during a talk-show appearance in which he recounted being guided through the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office before noticing the book in a waiting area.
According to Mamdani, the volume contained renderings of an octagon built directly onto the White House grounds and illustrations of the seating layout for an audience of several thousand.
He said he had not previously been aware of the event, which is scheduled for June 2026 as part of the celebrations marking America’s two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, led by longtime Trump ally Dana White, has said it expects to host roughly five thousand spectators and will restore the lawn after the event at its own expense.
Despite their sharp political differences, Mamdani and Trump held an unexpectedly warm and productive meeting, discussing city issues and touring key parts of the presidential residence.
Mamdani noted that the encounter was more affable than many had predicted and that the UFC book stood out largely because of its contrast with the traditional décor surrounding it.
For the mayor-elect, it was the clearest reminder of how the White House is preparing to blend sport, spectacle and national celebration in the coming year.
Mamdani, who met President Donald Trump last week for what both sides characterised as a constructive and good-natured discussion, shared the anecdote during a talk-show appearance in which he recounted being guided through the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office before noticing the book in a waiting area.
According to Mamdani, the volume contained renderings of an octagon built directly onto the White House grounds and illustrations of the seating layout for an audience of several thousand.
He said he had not previously been aware of the event, which is scheduled for June 2026 as part of the celebrations marking America’s two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, led by longtime Trump ally Dana White, has said it expects to host roughly five thousand spectators and will restore the lawn after the event at its own expense.
Despite their sharp political differences, Mamdani and Trump held an unexpectedly warm and productive meeting, discussing city issues and touring key parts of the presidential residence.
Mamdani noted that the encounter was more affable than many had predicted and that the UFC book stood out largely because of its contrast with the traditional décor surrounding it.
For the mayor-elect, it was the clearest reminder of how the White House is preparing to blend sport, spectacle and national celebration in the coming year.
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