Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Josh Marcus

Why buy ads when you can sponsor a fight at the White House

  • An upcoming UFC fight at the White House is attracting sponsors, including Bud Light, despite its significant financial losses from a 2023 controversy involving a transgender influencer.
  • Several other companies with ties to the president are also sponsoring the event, including the UFC, Polymarket (which counts the president's son as an advisor), and Paramount Plus.
  • Washington insiders suggest that sponsoring the event is a method for companies to secure a seat and gain favor with the president, with a Republican lobbyist describing it as an "unofficial vehicle" for corporate donors.
  • The Public Integrity Project has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging the event is "deeply corrupt" due to the UFC's access to a taxpayer-funded landmark and claiming the White House misled the public about its organization.
  • The president's family is directly profiting from the event by selling "Trump Coins" – themed silver and gold medallions featuring the president's face, marketed as a collaboration between the UFC and the Trump Organization.

IN FULL

MAGA’s least favorite beer is all over Trump’s Octagon ahead of White House UFC

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.