Maxx Crosby said he plans to attend the UFC fight on the White House South Lawn on June 14 as part of America's 250th-anniversary celebrations, calling the chance to be there “a lot of fun.”
"I've never been to the White House," Crosby said in a recent interview, adding, "I'm excited, I like history..." and that "it's incredible that we all have an opportunity to celebrate our country and just be part of a historic event... we live in the greatest country in the world and it should be celebrated."
The Raiders defensive lineman did not go as a neutral spectator. "I think everyone knows how much I love Justin Gaethje," Crosby said. "Justin Gaethje is one of the greatest fighters to ever do it, and he's an absolute legend." He added, "He's also a great friend, so I'll definitely be biased for him. I want to see him go to the White House and do his thing for sure." Crosby also praised UFC president Dana White: "Dana White is like family to me. He always does it big, and he always does it the biggest and best way. He's always going to put on an incredible show."
Those comments carry weight because the setting is unusual: a major UFC card staged on the South Lawn for the nation's 250th anniversary is a one-off pairing of politics, spectacle and sport. Crosby emphasized the symbolism. "It's the greatest country because it's opportunity. It's a land of opportunity," he said, later adding, "People don't say the American Dream for no reason." He also mentioned personal ties to the moment, saying his family has roots in the Balkans and that he values the historic framing.
Crosby's enthusiasm extended beyond the fight. Asked about the future of flag football as an international sport, he said he would welcome representing the United States when the discipline debuts at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. "Oh, no doubt," Crosby said. "I think it'd be incredible." He framed that prospect the same way he framed his trip to the White House: "You have an opportunity every day to chase your passion" and "Everyone comes from different backgrounds, but in this country you have a choice every day to chase what you love and what you aspire to do."
All of it comes while Crosby remains a notable asset on the NFL market. Last season he registered 28 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and 10.0 sacks in 15 games — production that helps explain why trade chatter follows him. On June 3, Dan Graziano wrote that Crosby "might stick with the Raiders all year at this point, but if he's going to get traded at all, we're probably looking at something in-season ahead of the deadline," and warned he wouldn't expect talk to heat up until Crosby returns to a field and shows he's healthy.
That contrast is the story's friction: Crosby is openly planning to attend a high-profile, celebratory White House card and publicly rooting for friends and fighters even as league observers name potential suitors should a contending team need an edge rusher. "If a team such as the Cowboys, Bills, Bears or Patriots finds itself in contention and in need of an impact pass rusher, things could get interesting here again," Graziano wrote, underscoring that Crosby's NFL status is still unresolved.
Crosby tied the two worlds together with a throwaway line that carried personal meaning — "I’ve met Trump a couple times, and he’s been incredible to me" — and with an unmistakable loyalty to people close to him in combat sports and football. He said of the White House event, "So, going to the White House, and being there, is going to be a lot of fun for sure."
The next fixed waypoint is June 14 on the South Lawn; what remains unanswered and most consequential is whether Crosby's appearance will unfold exactly as planned and in what capacity should his roster status change between now and the NFL season. That question — attendance and availability versus an unsettled trade backdrop — is what will determine whether this White House trip is a simple celebration or the opening chapter of a more complicated season for Crosby.
