UFC Champion Strickland Rages Against White House Ban, Plans Protest Outside
UFC champion Sean Strickland is set to unleash a protest outside the White House after being barred from the UFC Freedom 250 event. This comes after he made incendiary comments regarding U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel.
Strickland, who recently claimed the UFC Middleweight Championship by defeating Khamzat Chimaev, announced his plans for a "peaceful protest" at the White House gates. He will not be among the 5,000 spectators expected to fill the custom-built arena on the South Lawn.
In a social media post, Strickland revealed that his exclusion stems from his recent remarks about Trump and Israel. Once a vocal supporter of the President, Strickland has seemingly shifted his stance, leading to his ban.
On Wednesday, he dropped a bombshell in response to a UFC Instagram post promoting a fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira, stating he was "banned" from the event. He quipped, "UFC at the White House with BB in the audience. Straight (Israel flag emoji) slop."
When questioned by a fan about the ban, Strickland bluntly stated, "I made fun of Israel and Epstein." He later posted a lengthy video on Instagram, where he joked about not being "Israeli enough" to attend the event.
Strickland recounted receiving a call from UFC higher-ups who informed him of his ban. "Sean, I’ve got to apologize, but you’re not Israeli enough to go to UFC 250 Israel Edition," he claimed they said.
He expressed no surprise at the decision and issued apologies to both Israel and Trump. "I want to prove that I’m Israeli enough for you guys," he stated.
Strickland criticized Trump's actions, including military decisions that he claims cost Americans thousands to fight in wars tied to Israel. He also referenced Trump's approval ratings, highlighting a moment when Trump boasted about high approval in Israel despite low ratings elsewhere.
Despite being banned, Strickland confirmed he will still attend the UFC White House event in protest. "Apparently, I’m not American enough to go to Freedom 250, but I still got my ticket," he declared. He plans to bring his championship belt and make his voice heard outside the gates regarding his views on Trump and Israel.
