UFC champion removed from White House grounds after trying to crash event

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was forcibly escorted off the White House grounds in Washington during the historic “Freedom 250” event held overnight between Sunday and Monday. The exclusive UFC show was limited to 5,000 invited guests, including military personnel and senior government officials, and Strickland had already been barred from attending.

According to footage shared on social media, Strickland, known as “Tarzan,” was seen filming himself as he crossed barriers while carrying his championship belt, entered the arena area and insulted the hosts, including making a middle-finger gesture. Secret Service agents and White House security then tackled him and led him out by force as shocked attendees watched.

The confrontation came after Strickland said he had been excluded because of his harsh criticism of Donald Trump and what he described as Trump’s ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video posted before the event, he said, “I am the only American champion who was barred from the White House because I said Trump is in Netanyahu’s pocket.”

Strickland, who regained the title last month by defeating Khamzat Chimaev, had recently emerged as one of the administration’s sharpest critics despite once supporting Trump. His sarcastic remarks about U.S. war dead and about diplomatic ties with Jerusalem angered UFC and White House figures, though Dana White and UFC officials have not yet commented publicly. Sources in the organization expect the incident to affect Strickland’s professional future.