MMA superstar Ronda Rousey has made it abundantly clear that she’s not keen on stepping into the ring for any UFC festivities at President Donald Trump’s White House.
Just last month, UFC’s head honcho and Trump supporter, Dana White, announced plans for a cage fight right on the South Lawn next June to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
In a recent chat on the podcast Lapsed Fan, the 38-year-old Rousey, who hung up her mitts in wrestling back in 2016, was asked if she’d been invited to join the fight.
“I’m not battling at the White House,” the former UFC champ and WWE favorite stated bluntly. “After Mike Tyson being the biggest fight of the year, you never say never, but I ain’t fighting at that damn White House.”
When pressed further on whether she’d join the lineup if asked, Rousey shot back: “Even if I got the invite? I have way better things to do.”
So far, the rosters for the event are hush-hush, though it seems that Irish MMA notable Conor McGregor wants to be part of the action.
Rousey’s firm rejection isn’t really surprising—she’s been openly critical of Trump in the past, stating back in 2015 that she wouldn’t cast her vote for him.
“I really wouldn’t trust that guy to run my country,” she expressed during a CNN spot. “I don’t want a reality TV star leading my nation.”
Instead, Rousey backed Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders when it came to her vote.
“I’m all in for Bernie Sanders because he doesn’t take corporate cash,” she told Maxim back then. “I believe politicians shouldn’t accept money from outside foundations for their campaigns.” She even mentioned that if Sanders didn’t get the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton, she might go for a third-party vote.
Earlier this year, Rousey confessed to having made a commitment to White not to badmouth Trump, a big fan of UFC.
“In 2016, Dana White made me promise not to say anything negative about Donald Trump because he stepped in when they needed a venue and no one wanted to help him out,” she recalled. “And since I feel indebted to Dana, I said, ‘Alright.'”
Trump has frequently shown up at various fights over the years, becoming a favorite among fans, with many fighters earning wins in his honor.
“I think Trump’s association with the sport is a part of its history,” Rousey alluded to the president’s connection to UFC.
