Aiemann Zahabi Questions Whether Canada Is Drifting Toward Socialism Ahead of White House UFC Match
Canadian UFC bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi has been making headlines for more than just his seven-fight winning streak. In a recent interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty, the Montreal-based fighter shared his thoughts on Donald Trump, the direction of the Canadian economy, and what it would take to keep working-class Canadians moving up the ladder. Those comments come as Zahabi prepares for what could be the biggest fight of his career, a date with former champion Sean O’Malley on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.
Aiemann Zahabi on Trump and the Economy
Speaking with Finnerty, Zahabi didn’t hold back on where he stands politically. He said he was initially a fan of the U.S. president because of his promise to end wars and stop the violence in Gaza. “If he was running in Canada, he probably would have been the guy I voted for,” Zahabi, whose parents were Lebanese immigrants to Canada, said. He added that he was disappointed by the emergence of a new conflict in Iran, saying he “didn’t expect a new war out of him,” but acknowledged that “everyone has good and bad in them.”
When asked whether Canada needs its own version of Trump, Zahab pivoted to economics. “I want a leader like Trump in the sense of how he sees economics,” he said. “I want Canada to be a country that people want to invest in.” Zahabi, whose parents came from Lebanon, said he values economic mobility above all. “If you’re somebody who works very hard, you can move up in the classes,” he said. “I would like capitalism to reign in Canada instead of like socialism. We’re headed a little bit more towards socialism these days.”
He pointed to policies like eliminating taxes on tips and overtime as the kind of changes he wants to see north of the border. “These are the kind of things I want to see in Canada, so that people can really make it here, instead of us hitting that ceiling,” Zahabi said.
Is Canada Actually Heading Toward Socialism?
Zahabi’s frustration with high taxes and government spending is a claim that the country is drifting toward socialism, but it doesn’t quite line up with the data. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Index of Economic Freedom, Canada scored 76 out of 100, placing it in the “mostly free” category and ranking it first in the Americas region, ahead of the United States, which scored 70.2 and fell to 26th globally. The Heritage Foundation itself noted that Canada’s score actually increased by 2.3 points from the previous year.
The Cato Institute and Fraser Institute‘s Economic Freedom of the World report paints a similar picture. In its most recent edition, Canada ranked 11th out of 165 countries, above the United States at 5th on their index. Meanwhile, the 2025 Human Freedom Index placed Canada 12th out of 165 nations, and Freedom House gives the country a score of 98 out of 100.
By most standard definitions, Canada is best described as a mixed market economy rather than a socialist one. The bulk of production and employment comes from the private sector, with private businesses generating close to four-fifths of total output while governments focus on services like health care, pensions and education. International measures of economic freedom also place Canada firmly in the market‑economy camp, ranking it among the freest economies in the world.
USA vs Canada on the White House Lawn
Whatever his political views, Zahabi‘s focus is firmly on June 14. UFC Freedom 250 will take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., marking the first time a professional sporting event has been held at the presidential residence. The event is part of celebrations around the 250th anniversary of the United States and happens to fall on Trump’s 80th birthday.
Zahabi (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will face former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) in a three-round bout. The fight carries a natural USA vs Canada storyline, and O’Malley wasted no time playing it up, telling the UFC he would “fight anybody” to get on the card.
Zahabi is the younger brother of Firas Zahabi, the head trainer at Tristar Gym in Montreal who famously coached Georges St-Pierre throughout his career. The 38-year-old bantamweight has been training with his brother since he was 15 and carries that Tristar pedigree into every fight.
Zahabi’s seven-fight winning streak has been one of the quieter stories in the bantamweight division. His recent victories include a unanimous decision over former champion José Aldo at UFC 315 in May 2025, a split decision win over Marlon Vera in October 2025, and earlier decision wins over Pedro Munhoz and Javid Basharat. He was ranked No. 6 in the UFC bantamweight rankings as of January 2026.
The Vera fight in particular showed his toughness. Zahabi suffered a broken forearm in the second round but still managed to win a tight third round and take the split decision. His 14-2 record includes six knockout wins, two submissions, and six decision victories, with all eight of his finishes coming in the first round.
O’Malley is a heavy favorite heading in. Sportsbooks have him at -390, with Zahabi at +280. But the Canadian said he’s used to being counted out. “I have the ninth-largest upset in UFC history, and I’m looking to top that with this fight,” Zahabi told Newsmax. “I’ve spoiled parlays before, and I’m willing to do it again. Every time I’m an underdog, it looks like I win.”
The card features six bouts, headlined by an Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight title unification fight. Fighters on the card will reportedly make their walkouts from the Oval Office before heading onto the White House lawn, a detail that O’Malley called “hard to comprehend”.
For the Lebanese-Canadian Zahabi, the political backdrop adds an extra layer to an already unusual event. “It’s cool to have the politics involved in the sense that more people are going to be watching,” he said. “Some people who maybe never watched MMA before, they’re going to be intrigued in this matchup because of the stakes.”
If Zahabi pulls off the upset, and if he does it on Trump’s birthday, on the president’s own lawn? Even better, according to Zahabi: “I think it’s going to be great if I spoil the party.”
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty wrapped the segment by telling Zahabi that he hopes the Canadian loses at the UFC White House event.
