American sports commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan, during an interview with the winner of the UFC fight at the White House, Justin Gaethje, shared the contents of a personal conversation with US President Donald Trump. As Rogan noted, before the start of the tournament, he expressed to Trump his fears about the threat of a terrorist attack, which he countered with the words “everyone will have to die somehow.”
The UFC Freedom 250 tournament took place on June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House, where specially installed stands, a “Claw” lighting structure and an octagon for fighting. The FBI subsequently reported that it foiled a terrorist attack during the event using drones. The fight was attended by more than 4,000 spectators who received an invitation from the organizers and the Trump administration.
Rogan noted in a conversation with Gaethje and his coach Trevor Wittman, which was published on June 20, that he feared threats to the security of the event.
“I told Trump, 'I hope we don't die in a terrorist attack.' And he was like, “We all have to die somehow.” I was like, “What are you talking about, dude?” – Rogan joked.
Whitman and Gaethje noted that they also personally discussed this topic, and the fighter came to the conclusion that such a death would be “fucking legendary.” All three interlocutors laughed at each other's and Trump's comments.
Earlier this year, Rogan, considered a close ally of Trump and a popular figure among conservative men in the United States, noted that he had some concerns about holding the fight near the White House. He cited the ongoing conflict with Iran and the concentration of the US political elite in one place as the reasons for them. After the tournament, which he commentated for the Paramount+ service, Rogan said that the experience was the best in his career, notes the Mediaite portal.
Trump has been the subject of at least three confirmed assassination attempts in recent years. In July 2024, he was wounded in the ear during a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania. In the fall of the same year, a man with a machine gun was detained at his golf club in Florida, preparing to open fire, and in 2026, another attacker opened fire at a correspondents' dinner in Washington, which Trump was attending. Against this background, the US President joked at the end of last year that he had set a plan for himself to “survive” for 2026.
