Which ads are on the UFC White House octagon and what are their ties to Trump?

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Several big-time companies have secured their logos on the UFC cage on the White House South Lawn for President Donald Trump‘s UFC Freedom 250 event set for Sunday.

The White House UFC event has attracted many of the same crypto, tech, and alternative finance companies that have grown closer to Trump and his political movement, alongside traditional corporate sponsors seeking access to one of the most-watched sporting spectacles in the country.

The octagonal stage at the center of “the Claw” features several brands’ advertisements along the padded bars. Here’s who snagged a spot and their history with the Trump administration.

Polymarket

Polymarket may have the clearest direct connection to the Trump administration and its policies of any sponsor on the cage.

Trump-appointed CFTC Chairman Michael Selig on Wednesday unveiled proposed rules that would create the first formal federal framework governing prediction markets like Polymarket. The proposal would generally permit sports-related event contracts while establishing restrictions on certain categories of wagers, signaling a more permissive federal approach toward the industry.

Selig’s proposed rulemaking would cement federal oversight of a rapidly growing industry while limiting the ability of states to impose their own restrictions, aligning with Trump’s stance that markets should be federally regulated.

Polymarket praised the effort, saying it supports a federal framework that provides regulatory clarity while allowing innovation to continue. 

The cryptocurrency-based market also became a major source of election forecasting during the 2024 presidential race, with Trump supporters frequently citing its odds as evidence that traditional polls underestimated his support.

The company’s ties in Trumpworld venture beyond the policy, as Donald Trump Jr. has served as an adviser to Polymarket, and the company benefited from a friendlier regulatory environment after Trump returned to office.

More recently, Polymarket has found itself at the center of a growing legal battle over whether states can regulate or ban prediction markets. 

The Trump administration has backed Polymarket and rival platform Kalshi in court fights against states seeking to restrict the platforms, arguing prediction markets fall under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than state gambling regulators.  

Bud Light

One of the most recognizable names on the cage may be Bud Light, which returned as the UFC’s beer sponsor in 2024 after a yearslong absence. 

Bud Light has had a complicated relationship with Trump.

The president, while out of office, publicly defended Bud Light after conservatives boycotted the beer maker over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in 2023. In a Truth Social post the following year, Trump argued that while the company had made the “WORST AD in history,” it should not be permanently punished because it employed thousands of Americans, helped farmers, and provided scholarships to families of fallen service members.

Anheuser-Busch, the beer’s parent company, maintains a substantial lobbying presence in Washington but is not generally viewed as politically aligned with Trump. 

Stake

Stake is one of the more controversial sponsors attached to the event because it is an unregulated online casino that operates through a “sweepstakes” model. 

The cryptocurrency gambling company has become one of UFC’s most visible global partners and represents the growing role of digital asset firms in professional sports. Stake operates in a heavily regulated industry and has faced scrutiny from regulators in multiple countries because its setup is indistinguishable from real-money gambling. 

Trump does not have any business ties to Stake, but has posted the brand through AI-generated images with the company’s logo to promote the UFC event at the White House. 

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Ram

Ram Trucks’s connection to Trump is largely cultural rather than political. 

The Stellantis-owned brand markets heavily to rural, blue-collar, and trades-oriented customers, demographics that overlap significantly with the UFC’s audience and Trump’s political base. The automaker has worked with multiple administrations on manufacturing policy, tariffs, and vehicle regulations. 

Stellantis announced a $13 billion investment in onshoring production following Trump’s push to make vehicles in the United States. 

Left-wing politicians have raised alarm over the automaker’s closeness to the administration, particularly after it debuted the “America 250” special edition Ram 1500, aligning itself with Trump’s planned celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

Pit Boss Grills

Pit Boss Grills has a connection to the event itself, but its ties to Trump are far more cultural.

The grill manufacturer became UFC’s “Official Grill” earlier this year under a multiyear partnership that includes branding inside the octagon, athlete endorsements, sweepstakes, and UFC-themed promotional events. The company also signed UFC fighter Bo Nickal as part of the partnership. 

Pit Boss does not have a significant political relationship with the Trump administration. Its connection is instead through UFC’s business ecosystem. The company has aggressively expanded its sports marketing portfolio through partnerships with professional sports teams and major events, making the White House card a natural extension of its UFC sponsorship strategy.

The brand’s core customer base, which is outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, sports fans, and suburban homeowners, overlaps heavily with both UFC’s audience and Trump’s political base.

Total Wireless

Unlike several other sponsors, Total Wireless has little obvious connection to Trump and more so targets the UFC’s audience. 

The wireless carrier, owned by Verizon, primarily serves the prepaid cellphone market and appears to aim for the UFC’s working-class audience. The company’s presence on the cage is more consistent with a traditional sports sponsorship than a political relationship. 

Rechain

Rechain is an artificial intelligence and blockchain company that markets AI-powered tools and digital infrastructure products.

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Unlike Polymarket, there is no direct regulatory or political relationship between Rechain and the Trump administration. However, the company’s presence on the White House UFC cage reflects the broader trend of technology and AI firms aligning themselves with Trump’s political coalition. 

The sponsorship is notable given the administration’s focus on promoting AI development and reducing regulatory barriers on emerging technologies.

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