United States President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday with an unprecedented Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the South Lawn of the White House.
Gatekeepers News reports that this came just hours after the announcement of a peace agreement with Iran. The event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” was held as part of activities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
In a scene never before witnessed at the White House, Trump walked from the Oval Office alongside UFC President Dana White to a specially constructed arena known as “The Claw.” Before the fights began, Trump appeared on the Truman Balcony as the U.S. national anthem played and military jets flew overhead.
The event featured seven mixed martial arts bouts inside the iconic UFC Octagon and attracted about 4,000 invited guests, including political allies, military personnel, celebrities and business leaders. Thousands more watched from outside the White House grounds on giant screens set up along the Ellipse.
According to reports, the UFC-funded spectacle cost an estimated $60 million and was billed by supporters as a unique celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The White House said the UFC covered the expenses of the event.
However, the event drew criticism from opponents and protest groups who argued that hosting a professional cage-fighting event at the White House diminished the dignity of the presidency and blurred the lines between public office and entertainment. Demonstrators also gathered in Washington, D.C., accusing Trump of turning a national symbol into a political and commercial stage.
Despite the controversy, supporters praised the event as a reflection of American culture and Trump’s close ties to the UFC. The president had earlier described the fight card as a spectacle that Americans would enjoy, while UFC fans welcomed the historic occasion as the first major professional sporting event ever staged at the White House.
