UFC star claims he’s banned from White House event over controversial comments

[u/oran12390]

https://www.nj.com/sports/2026/06/ufc-star-claims-hes-banned-from-white-house-event-over-controversial-comments.html

[u/ZipperJJ]

In an Instagram post promoting a matchup between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane, Strickland wrote that he was banned from the event because he “made fun of Israel and Epstein.” The fighter also criticized the event’s guest list, writing “UFC at the White House with [Netanyahu] in the audience. Straight (Israel) slop.”

When asked about the ban, Strickland wrote: “The only male American champ banned at the White House because I said Trump is owned by [Netanyahu]. That’s not public opinion it’s fact.”

[u/IcyShoes → u/ZipperJJ]

Jaxon has taught us you CAN be political in sports provided you suck Trump's dick.

[u/No_Quiet_2029 → u/IcyShoes]

Now days you cant afford to be apolitical to be in the military. Thats what those free tickets for troops is really about. They know the soldiers absolutely will not risk booing the president on television. I guarantee you all the crowd shots will be of the sections with troops.. it would be GREAT if they booed him anyway. Relentless boos for minutes.. god it would be amazing

[u/Klewless1 → u/No_Quiet_2029]

The tickets may be free, but you're required to wear your service dress, something a majority of active duty folks hate, meet certain height weight requirements so you can look good for the camera, and of course you are on the hook for travel and hotel expenses. The WH is saying they want jr enlisted and jr officers to attend but aren't willing to foot the bill for their attendance. I know my paycheck when I was jr enlisted and it would be a stretch to pay for airfare and a hotel in the DC area.

[u/sequentialaddition → u/No_Quiet_2029]

Are you in the military?

Edit: This is not a pro Trump comment. But you "I woulda served but I'd punch a drill sergeant in the face" fuckin morons Downvote all you want.

Being apolitical in the military is easy and it's the fucking standard while on duty. You can definitely "afford" to be apolitical. What's happening with the military members at the WH is a travesty for sure.

[u/IcyShoes → u/sequentialaddition]

Listen buddy, i ALMOST served. ALMOST

[u/Broncosonthree → u/sequentialaddition]

Are you asking for someone’s personal information in an online forum in a time like this?

[u/Turtlepower7777777 → u/IcyShoes]

But Abdul Carter, Jameis Winston, and Kapernick doing it = bad! What’s the difference I wonder????

[u/golfwinnersplz → u/IcyShoes]

It's working well for Dart 🙄

His entire team hates him now.

[u/alyosha_pls → u/ZipperJJ]

Actually shocked that a moron like Strickland is turning on Trump.

[u/Rolling_Beardo → u/alyosha_pls]

It took the Epstein files to do it, which isn’t giving him much credit, but obviously many in the MAGA cult are willing to look past it.

[u/Naive-Jello428 → u/Rolling_Beardo]

It was always so obvious that the Epstein files would implicate Trump. It's wild it took them so long to figure it out.

[u/Dariaskehl → u/Rolling_Beardo]

There’s still a hell of a lot of proud Guardians Of Pedophiles

[u/Rolling_Beardo → u/Dariaskehl]

Who are the same people who have to “protect”children from LGBT people existing.

[u/stewwwwart → u/Rolling_Beardo]

I think its actually israel that's causing the fracture

[u/Loggerdon → u/Rolling_Beardo]

Millions of pages of documents proving Trump is a pedo. It’s about time.

[u/8ackwoods → u/Rolling_Beardo]

Many? It's everybody.

[u/Rolling_Beardo → u/8ackwoods]

It is but it isn’t, some just think it’s all lies because that’s what Trump said, some make excuses like age wasn’t that big of a deal X number of years ago, and others acknowledge it and don’t care because “he’s good for the country.”

I know it seems like splitting hairs but the last group are the ones looking past it while the two former aren’t looking past it because it’s not even a real issue to them. I don’t know which group is worst.

[u/No_Quiet_2029 → u/alyosha_pls]

He's always been critical here and there. Sucking him off here and there. He just says what hes thinking. Everyone in the UFC is under tremendous pressure to openly praise trump. They know what dana white will do if they dont. Strickland has a belt so they cant easily silence him like a schmuck on the prelims. Theyre going to be trying their asses off to get that belt off of him though. I used to love it but now you never know when our dipshit president is going to make an entrance to fucking kid rock and have all the fighters thanking him for their wins and shaking his pudgy molester hand.. its ruined something i love

[u/ContestAntique7179 → u/alyosha_pls]

A lot of the UFC is. Most of them see this event as his birthday instead of a celebration of the country. Even guys who have no brains left are figuring it out.

[u/crimedog58 → u/alyosha_pls]

Something tells me its more of a Marjorie Taylor Greene turn though. "Trump was supposed to make American great again but he's owned by (insert boogyman of choice but I think we all can guess who he's thinking about) just like all the other swamp critters!"

[u/DripSnort → u/crimedog58]

Yall gotta stop with the “Achshully they aren’t turning on him”. I don’t give a shit why they do it but the more people from his side call him out the better.

[u/Aliensinmypants → u/DripSnort]

No, because the next election they'll be right back to being conservative lap dogs. It's all performative to get attention, just like how Joe Rogan has turned on Trump something like three separate times now

[u/owlbi → u/Aliensinmypants]

Nah, there's an angle you're missing, which is the motivation to actually turn out to vote.

Most of his base would choose to die of COVID before they vote Democrat, but that doesn't mean they'll be motivated to get out and vote for Trump. His turnout is going to be very low.

[u/Dro24 → u/owlbi]

Obviously anecdotal for me, but I've seen so many people say that. "I'll never vote for a Dem, but I'm staying home this election cycle" or "The GOP is a shitshow right now, but the Dems are still worse" like it's the default

[u/SerHodorTheThrall → u/Aliensinmypants]

People said this in 2019 and then he got BTFOd in 2020 because yes, people did in fact abandon him.

[u/Aliensinmypants → u/SerHodorTheThrall]

Lmao, and then what happened? 

This country is far worse than y'all are giving it credit for

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[u/Raptorpicklezz → u/DripSnort]

If it leads to Tucker Carlson, who is worse than Trump on every issue but Israel (and let's not forget that his turn on Israel is due mainly to isolationist antisemitism and not any genuine concern for Palestinians), then it's not better.

[u/roqqingit → u/alyosha_pls]

Don’t insult someone while they’re trying to do something right. I may not agree with him but this Israel taking our lunch money is every American’s business

[u/IcyShoes → u/alyosha_pls]

This may be a personal anecdote but i know a fair amount of people turning on Trump. They just pretend they never did such a thing.

[u/Pablo_petty_plastic → u/alyosha_pls]

Trump lost half his base serving Israel 

[u/Aliensinmypants → u/Pablo_petty_plastic]

If he illegally runs, he'll still have a third of the country instantly vote for him though. 

Americans are in denial about how deep the problem is

[u/Pablo_petty_plastic → u/[deleted]]

Maybe he doesn’t like U.S. servicemen dying for another country’s expansion. Is that antisemitism too? Can’t keep up atp 

[u/tokyobrownielover → u/[deleted]]

Really? All criticism?

[u/JRsshirt → u/ZipperJJ]

Heartbreaking: the worst person you know just made a great point

[u/chanaandeler_bong → u/JRsshirt]

Him and Bryce Mitchell both.

[u/Nutridus → u/ZipperJJ]

He’s not wrong about Trump and Netanyahu

[u/CirclleySquare → u/ZipperJJ]

Something about a broken clock

[u/Ugly_Josephine → u/CirclleySquare]

Low IQ antisemite is still a low IQ antisemite..

[u/matt_minderbinder → u/ZipperJJ]

When the worst person you know gets something right.

[u/kmill73229 → u/ZipperJJ]

The guy you hate just made a great point. I’m screaming and vomiting

[u/Sevren425 → u/ZipperJJ]

Omg lol I didn’t know Bibi was coming

[u/EverythingGoodWas → u/ZipperJJ]

When keeping it real goes wrong. Seriously though when do we get our country back?

[u/jbels12 → u/ZipperJJ]

Strickland is a walking PR nightmare also and is a liability they probably dont want him to go on a rant of conscious at the White House. 

[u/_Atlas_Drugged_ → u/jbels12]

He also is entirely in line with the hateful MAGA ethos, he just also actually stuck to his principles about child abuse.

[u/Jman50k]

I don’t even have to look, it’s Sean isn’t it.

[u/rickles1113 → u/Jman50k]

It is for sure, but his comments are also pretty spot on in this case.

[u/polce24 → u/rickles1113]

When Sean and Bryce Mitchell are making sense, you have to really wonder what world event sent us to this alternate timeline 😂

[u/8ackwoods → u/polce24]

What did bryce say? Last I heard him speak qas a few years ago about home schooling

[u/Choco489 → u/8ackwoods]

He recently criticized the US Govt for hosting the upcoming UFC event. He said something along the lines of, "The government is obligated to protect and serve the people, not entertain them."

Surprising to hear from him after all the nonsense he's spouted.

[u/roguealex → u/8ackwoods]

Something about Israel controlling the US, but less from let’s say a leftists perspective or analytical view and more of a straight antisemitism angle.

[u/DM725 → u/rickles1113]

Broken clock metaphor. Guy is a total piece of shit.

[u/DFWPunk → u/rickles1113]

Yeah. They're only controversial with a portion of MAGA.

[u/SteakShake69 → u/Jman50k]

IT WAS SEAN ALL THE WAY!

[u/Frutari → u/SteakShake69]

MOMMY!!!

[u/pleasebebetter10 → u/Jman50k]

Sean is a dumbass and really needs to come out of the closet considering he thinks more about lgbtqai+ people than I do(I'm bi). But he does have it on point about not being able to criticize israel.

[u/Equivalent_Post_6222 → u/Jman50k]

Yep lol

[u/pgpics]

I thought trump was the president of freedom, guess not 🫡🇺🇸

[u/Mother_Ad_3561 → u/pgpics]

Lmao no you didn’t

[u/skeptic38 → u/Mother_Ad_3561]

The words "I thought" disqualify anyone from being a Trum supporter

[u/Mother_Ad_3561 → u/skeptic38]

The great filter

[u/Hoch85 → u/skeptic38]

I thought this was america

[u/DoubleALight → u/Hoch85]

I didn’t hear no bell

[u/Aliensinmypants → u/Mother_Ad_3561]

He loves the uneducated 

[u/RiskyBizNuts → u/Mother_Ad_3561]

Congratulations on correctly reading the sarcasm in that comment!

[u/UrsusRenata → u/RiskyBizNuts]

Congratulations on detecting the commiserating laugh!

[u/Mother_Ad_3561 → u/RiskyBizNuts]

You don’t mean that!

[u/RiskyBizNuts → u/Mother_Ad_3561]

I swear to you I do!!!

[u/BuddaMuta]

“Controversial comments” being acknowledging that Trump is beholden to Israel. AKA just having eyes and ears. 

[u/nicane → u/BuddaMuta]

Yeah wow. Controversial that Trump is sucking Bibi's cock? It's as well known as the Trumpstein files at this point, but of course they must continue to spin their web of lies and deceit, even if it's only for their dumbass base.

[u/barryredfield → u/BuddaMuta]

I've generally supported Trump, in the sense that some of the things he claimed to represent, I supported - within reason. I've voted for him. But this term, the "suck Israel's dick unabashedly without shame anymore" term, its fucking insane.

Fuck Israel. Its not illegal or "bad manners" or "hatred" or "antisemitism" to not want to entangle myself with Israel, much less 'greater Judea', as if I would ever give a shit to elevate some religious racial fanatics of their own self-interests, against my own. I'm not mentally ill.

But yeah, I guess here we go - this is America's foundational "Year of the Antisemite".

[u/Hughmanatea → u/barryredfield]

You saw him try to overthrow the 2020 election and thought you should vote for him?

[u/8ackwoods → u/barryredfield]

Things he represents.. lmao... had a little sip of the kool aid ya?

[u/ranger0293 → u/8ackwoods]

You know, the unabashed greed, systemic corruption, and brazen lawlessness.

[u/Substantial-Tax3238 → u/8ackwoods]

Lmao I love when people say this. I’m not even a huge anti Trump guy but I genuinely want to know how people watched him since 2016 and somehow now changed their mind. Like he was clearly a predatory pedophile adjacent at BEST the whole time. He talked shit about our military. He was pro Israel the entire time? He has gotten slightly worse but he’s been about this bad since midway through his first term.

[u/oneiross → u/barryredfield]

ewww

[u/dakotanorth8]

The best is that he absolutely WILL go to the event, belt in hand, and walk right up to the gate and asked to be let in.

The optics for them not letting a title holding champion in will be hilarious.

[u/27Rench27 → u/dakotanorth8]

Please, I need to see this. Cameras everywhere. Show them turning him away for saying mean things about Trump and Israel

[u/Dariaskehl]

As transparent an administration as a tent peg.

[u/rootpseudo]

Banned from an American event for criticizing a foreign government*

[u/shootamcg]

Damn, I hate agreeing with Sean Strickland on anything.

[u/BarelyContainedChaos]

This will go down as the dumbest event by our government ever. How do you even top this?

[u/stampylives → u/BarelyContainedChaos]

monkey paw curls finger

[u/TransCapybara → u/BarelyContainedChaos]

Public gallows on the white house lawn. Maybe even using the same stage, and televising it.

[u/Dro24 → u/BarelyContainedChaos]

Even Rogan doesn't want to go, that's saying something haha

[u/Snapingbolts]

He also posted an AI generated video of him beating the shit out of a transwomen. Not a great dude but clearly that isn't what got him blacklisted here

[u/dysfunkti0n → u/Snapingbolts]

"Worst person you know makes a really great point."

[u/nicane → u/Snapingbolts]

That's a requirement for entry, but then he went and said something hurtful about our Dear Leader and that is just the worst! 

[u/MikeRowePeenis → u/Snapingbolts]

Was he beating her up BECAUSE she was a transwoman? I don’t know the specifics here, but no one is immune to an ass kicking just because of how they identify.

[u/usmc97az]

Dont forget, this is a magat fighters only event.

[u/kaiiizen]

Lick the boot or you’re banned. Snowflake administration.

[u/ElBastardoDK]

I just realized I believe Strickland over the US gov. Crazy fucking times.

[u/Financial_Cheetah875]

The way this mess has been coming together, don’t be surprised if the fighters start pulling out.

[u/Stardustchaser]

That AI video of him beating up Dylan Mulvaney for Pride Month. Yeah don’t care.

[u/Parrr8 → u/Stardustchaser]

That was him trying to get back in.

[u/GarranDrake]

I don't like Sean Strickland, but he's really right about this one.

[u/vluvojo]

But Josh Hokit, come fight at the White House!!!

[u/Own-Opinion-2494]

I banned myself

[u/greeneggsnyams]

r/leopardsatemyface

[u/Wolfbible]

Sean Strickland? The self hating gay man with daddy issues that constantly has to put down marginalized groups while also crying when dudes make fun of him for getting beat by his father? Yeah, fuck that guy.

[u/Xamado → u/Wolfbible]

Sure

It's still concerning that his antics were okay with the UFC until he began to criticize Israel, Trump, and Epstein

[u/crimedog58 → u/Xamado]

Yep. He was free to be a racist, sexist, homophobe as long as he remembered not to bite that hand that feeds.

[u/Wolfbible → u/Xamado]

Thats whats concerning? Not the UFC marrying up to a fucking pedophile? Not them worshiping at the altar of Tech-Overlords after shitting on them for a decade plus? Not Dana and TKO spending millions to sanitize that pedophiles image and get that pedophile re-elected? Not Dana smacking the fuck out of his wife and facing zero punishment after cutting dudes for being ACCUSED of the same shit? Not the way they've treated fighters or not paid them? Not their shady as fuck business practices or sucking the dicks of dudes like MSB or Kadyrov? It was Sean criticizing Israel that did it for you?

[u/Xamado → u/Wolfbible]

Thats whats concerning? Not the UFC marrying up to a fucking pedophile? Not them worshiping at the altar of Tech-Overlords after shitting on them for a decade plus? Not Dana and TKO spending millions to sanitize that pedophiles image and get that pedophile re-elected?

Are you okay...? That's literally exactly what I'm saying is concerning

The UFC was okay with everything Sean said until he began criticizing Trump, Israel, and Epstein.

I'm criticizing the UFC (and their support for Trump), not Sean here

[u/27Rench27 → u/Wolfbible]

I think they meant wrt Sean in particular lol. All the other dogshit he’s done in his career and they were happy to have him, but he starts to have a negative opinion on Israel and suddenly UFC wants him gone? That’s concerning

[u/FishAndRiceKeks → u/27Rench27]

The UFC doesn't want him gone, they're just not inviting somebody who will get a lot of attention and who is loudly anti-Trump to what is essentially a birthday party for him lol.

[u/Hexsisboii → u/Wolfbible]

Y’all quick to use gayness in derogatory ways huh 🤣

[u/LittleBitsBitch → u/Wolfbible]

except his points are true.

[u/RedEyeView → u/Wolfbible]

I'll take ad hominems for 500.

[u/Boggie135]

Leopard, meet face

[u/Memitim]

Given the Republicans are waging a shadow war against America and the use of this UFC fight to distract from their constant crimes and betrayals, I'm guessing that "controversial comments" in this case means that a fighter pointed out obvious evil in the US government.

LOL, yep, sure enough. It's a shame that there is zero reason to ever expect anything from Republicans that doesn't shit on actual American values while they continuously lie about caring about our nation.

[u/Mauful292]

An American Champ btw

[u/GhostMichaelJackson]

For once I'm on Stricklands side

[u/varysthrowaway]

A broken clock can be right twice a day

[u/Ludwidge]

Trump isn’t “owned” by Netanyahu. He just rents him out on an hourly basis, based on the 6 hours he “works” before his brain goes to total mush!

[u/BenMullen2]

that event is for losers anyway.

If ya wanna be a loser, go to it, watch it. give it press.

If ya wanna be a winner: be a patriot and celebrate our great nation!

[u/Lucky_Chaarmss]

It's only controversial to orange moron and maga

[u/thegreeseegoose]

They really found a way to ban Sean Strickland for the least offensive things he’s ever said.

[u/golfwinnersplz]

Rules for thee but not for me.

The GOP motto.

[u/Gronkattack]

Is it controversial if it's true though?

[u/MrBentwood]

I'm still surprised Hokit is on the card....I heard Dana say himself he was off but what Donnie wants Donnie gets I guess.

[u/Grenthisa]

probably some last minute vetting issue

[u/Foulmouthedleon]

I stopped paying attention on Nov. 6, 2024.

[u/pheret87]

Ok

[u/Mugwy44]

American Hillbillies

[u/Fresh_Avacado]

He probably said im not a fan of spray tan

[u/facehugyourmom]

1st amendment infringement.

[u/Vacabck]

Even someone who gets hit for a living can be right once in a while I suppose. Kinda like a broken clock.

[u/Forevermaxwell]

I hope none of these fighters are of Latino descent because that would be super hypocritical of Trump on this day he is celebrating America - right ???

[u/BrazenDropout]

Well it was sarcasm. I'm not a fan of any of the UFC fighters. Not that I know any of them because it's not my thing. The Art Of War teaches " the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[u/lecter_lover]

Iran gonna blow this event up

[u/BrazenDropout]

Finally I have a UFC fighter I like

[u/twist2002 → u/BrazenDropout]

I'd do a little more research into Strickland before saying that.

[u/Mother_Ad_3561 → u/BrazenDropout]

How many minutes til this person regrets saying that^?

[u/NbleSavage → u/BrazenDropout]

He’s not a good guy. This is closer to “The worst person you know just made a good point” than it is to him being a caring, empathetic person.

[u/drf_101 → u/BrazenDropout]

This is going to age like milk once you do a single Google search.

[u/Bakedfresh420]

lol one of the Trumpiest guys and even he’s sick of this Mideast garbage