What courage! Topuria needles Gaethje face-to-face during meeting with Trump at the White House.

Ilia Topuria Promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

PUBLICITY:

The climate for UFC White HouseThe event, scheduled for June 14th, gained another chapter of provocation. Last Wednesday (6), during a meeting in the Oval Office, in Washington, DC, (USA), Donald Trump received the main names of the event and ended up witnessing a jab from Ilia Topuria directed to Justin gaethje before the fight for the unification of the lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg).

During the conversation, Trump stated that he was friends with Gaethje, which opened the door for a direct provocation from the champion. Confident for the main event of the UFC White HouseTopuria questioned the US president about putting a personal friend in front of such a complicated challenge, especially at one of the biggest events of the year.

See too

Khamzat Chimaev explains how he plans to hunt down Alex Poatan after UFC 328.

Donald Trump unveils special belt for UFC fights at the White House; check it out.

How do betting odds work in fights?

"Why do you want to give the hardest test to a friend of yours?" he asked. Ilia Topuria.

Because the provocation occurred with Gaethje present at the meeting, the camera focused on the American, who displayed a less-than-friendly facial expression.

Calmly, the US president acknowledged the difficulty of the fight against Topuria and returned the floor to the Georgian-Spanish leader with a question about the expected outcome of the battle.

"I want to give you the toughest test, exactly that. What are your chances of winning?" Trump replied.

Known for his aggressive style and high confidence, the Georgian-Spanish fighter reiterated that he fully believes in his victory in the match.

“I have complete confidence. One hundred percent. And I hope Gaethje has the same confidence,” Topuria added.

😂🇺🇸 Ilia Topuria and Donald Trump spoke about Justin Gaethje in front of him:

⚡️Ilia: “Why do you want to give the toughest test to a friend of yours?”

⚡️ Trump: "I want to give the hardest test, that's right. What are your chances of winning?"

⚡️ Ilia: “I have complete faith.… pic.twitter.com/XemVhgYvPB

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 6, 2026

Full UFC White House fight card

Ilia Topuria e Justin gaethje make the main fight of the UFC White HouseThe fight, scheduled for June 14th in Washington DC (USA), is for the unification of the lightweight title and headlines a star-studded card that will also feature... Alex Poatán facing up Cyryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title (up to 120,2 kg). Check out the fight schedule below (subject to change).

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Ilia Topuria x Justin gaethje – fight for the unification of the belt

Heavy weight (up to 120,2 kg): Alex Poatán x Cyryl Gane – fight for the interim belt

Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Sean O'Malley x Aiemann Zahabi

Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Mauricio Ruffy x Michael chandler

Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): BoNickal x Kyle Daukaus

Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Diego lopes x Steve Garcia