Dana White: Gnats Could Disrupt White House UFC Event

President Donald Trump's planned UFC showdown on the White House lawn is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious live sporting events ever staged in the nation's capital, but Dana White says Mother Nature may have other plans. The UFC president revealed this week that swarms of gnats at a recent White House event raised red flags for organizers preparing for the outdoor spectacle tied to America 250 celebrations and Trump's 80th birthday next month. White, a close Trump ally who has frequently appeared alongside the president at UFC events, said the issue became apparent during a dinner tied to the administration's rollout of the redesigned Rose Garden. "Another problem that I always think about, especially on the East Coast: bugs," White said during an appearance on the "Boardroom" podcast. "President Trump just opened the Rose Garden two nights ago, and he invited me to dinner there. The amount of gnats that were flying around ... I'm like, 'Holy [expletive].'" White said he immediately contacted UFC production executives after leaving Washington. "As soon as I got on the plane, I called my head of production and said, 'Yeah, let me tell you about the gnat situation tonight,'" he said. The UFC chief warned the insects could become an even bigger issue once the massive television lighting rigs are installed around the Octagon. "So when you're a fighter, think about that lighting grid ... the amount of power in the lights ... moths, gnats, and God knows what else," White added. Organizers are reportedly considering industrial fans and other measures to keep bugs away from fighters, fans, and camera equipment during the nationally televised event. "These are all the little details that we have to think about," White said. "That's why I don't like fighting outside. Ever." Despite the unusual concern, preparations for the historic fight card are moving ahead. Trump welcomed UFC stars Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, and Ciryl Gane to the Oval Office earlier this month while unveiling renderings of the planned venue. According to the Daily Mail, images showed a patriotic red, white, and blue Octagon set against the backdrop of the White House. Trump reportedly said the event would be free and predicted enormous crowds, with about 5,000 attendees seated on the White House grounds and as many as 100,000 more expected to gather at the Ellipse to watch the action on giant screens. "I think it's gonna be the biggest event we've ever had at the White House," the president said, according to the Mail. "The White House doesn't really do athletic events for the most part, and these are all the greatest champions in the world. They're the greatest fighters in the world; you can tell by looking at them." Topuria and Gaethje are expected to headline the card, while Pereira and Gane are also slated to compete.