White House Bars Reporters From South Lawn UFC Fight, Limits Journalists to Press Pool

The White House press corps will be barred from White House grounds on Sunday because of a UFC fight hosted on the South Lawn, according to an email sent by the White House Correspondents’ Association and obtained by The Washington Post.

“Typically, press looking to cover marquee events held at the White House receive credentials through the White House directly”

Awful Announcing

WHCA president Weijia Jiang wrote that “only the White House press poolers” would be allowed on White House grounds unless UFC gives them press credentials, with Secret Service access points across campus and the White House North Lawn used as a staging area for fighters and UFC filming.

Awful Announcing

Jiang said UFC is permitting only a “very limited number” of journalists on the South Lawn, while other credentialed journalists will have to watch from either the nearby Ellipse or the JW Marriott hotel.

Reporters also would not be allowed to access the White House briefing room, their press workplaces, or “Pebble Beach,” an area on the North Lawn used for television appearances.

The event is meant to celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday and to kick off events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Jiang told members the WHCA had been pushing back, but “we have been told there will be various Secret Service access points across campus” and that the White House was “standing firm” on the credentialing plan.

In response to The Washington Post, White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said in a post on X that the press office had expanded the pool covering the event to accommodate more reporters.

The New Republic

Wales wrote, “The pool will be providing full coverage on the South Lawn for the duration of UFC Freedom250,” while the WHCA declined to comment.

Awful Announcing reported that the White House cedes control of press credentialing to the UFC for UFC Freedom 250, with only reporters approved by the Dana White-run fighting promotion able to cover the event on premises.

The New Republic described the arrangement as giving the mixed-martial-arts company control over who can get in, saying the White House Correspondents Association told its members that just the White House press pool was allowed.

The Washington Post said the mixed-martial-arts company Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is run by Dana White, a prominent supporter and close friend of President Donald Trump.

“Democracy Dies in Darkness By Scott Nover The White House press corps won’t be allowed on White House grounds Sunday because of a UFC fight being hosted on the South Lawn, according to an email sent by the White House Correspondents’ Association and obtained by The Washington Post”

The Washington Post

It also reported that the organization is erecting a giant cage-fighting ring on the South Lawn for the bout Sunday.

The Washington Post said the White House normally handles credentialing for large-scale events but was ceding control of Sunday’s event to UFC.

Awful Announcing added that White House reporters seeking access to the event would have to go directly through UFC, which is awarding a “very limited number” of credentials for reporters directly on the South Lawn.

The New Republic framed the restriction as unusual, noting that the White House has historically handled press credentialing for larger events while this Sunday’s UFC event would leave other journalists watching from the Ellipse Park or the JW Marriott hotel.