On June 14th, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday. He arranged an event called “UFC Freedom 250” at the White House, where various fighters competed on the southern lawn of the White House to celebrate Trump’s birthday and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.
According to the US Wall Street Journal, this unprecedented combat event has turned the White House, a symbol of national power, into a ‘billboard’, potentially bringing significant profits to UFC. However, Trump’s actions have also drawn criticism from critics, who accuse him of ‘abusing his authority’ and saying that hosting mixed martial arts events at the White House is ‘inappropriate’.
The South Lawn of the White House was originally used for hosting foreign guests and holding press conferences and other important events. To host mixed martial arts competitions, the organizers built a steel arch structure that is 28 meters high and weighs 600 tons. The structure includes a stepped seating area and the iconic octagonal cage for the fights. At the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the west side of the White House, UFC also provided dressing rooms for the contestants.
Trump and his wife Melania attended the event. UFC President Dana White, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Paramount CEO David Elishton were also among the guests in attendance.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UFC President White appeared together at a martial arts event. IC photo
The Wall Street Journal reported that this mixed martial competition showcased the “masculine style” that the Trump administration advocates. Government officials and Trump’s allies cheered for the fighters, shouting patriotic slogans. At the beginning of the match, some spectators even shouted “Happy Birthday!” to Trump.
The middleweight fighter Bo Nícaro defeated his opponent with a series of heavy punches, and praised Trump for being ‘courageous’ in hosting the competition. After winning the lightweight fight, Diego Lopes spread his arms wide towards the White House, causing a frenzy among the spectators.
Heavyweight fighter Josh Hughey wore a American flag headscarf after the match and presented his gold chain necklace to Trump. In a podcast interview, Hughey also made vulgar remarks about Michelle Obama, the wife of former U.S. President Barack Obama. He said, "In the end, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?"
The U.S. military was deeply involved in this event. When the country band Zack Brown performed the U.S. national anthem, military aircraft flew over the White House, and a military parade squad stood by. The U.S. Marine Band performed during the competition, and the UFC's television broadcast also showed footage of U.S. overseas troops watching this fight in their posts.
Additionally, "UFC Free 250" has a strong commercial nature. It provides exclusive access for a select few VIPs. Around the octagonal cage, there are advertisements from sponsors such as the beer brand Bud Light, the law firm Morgan & Morgan, and the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com.
According to court documents submitted by the United States National Park Service, the costs of hosting the "UFC Freedom 250" event were approximately $60 million. It is expected that sponsors will help UFC recover at least half of the costs, and significant exposure could lead to even greater profits.
The "UFC Freedom 250" fight event took place on the South Lawn of the White House. IC Photo
The Trump administration claimed that the mixed martial arts competition held in front of the White House was part of an event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Trump and his close ally White described the competition as a symbol of “American perseverance.” White said, “This is a country of warriors; America was built through battles.”
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said that this competition is a “gift for the American people”. However, The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the event is exclusive to the Paramount+ platform, which requires a monthly subscription.
Analysts believe that this fight show exemplifies Trump’s political style of “breaking convention and ignoring the elite”. Trump also hopes to highlight his “masculine qualities” through this intense fight. Some supporters of Trump say they feel that the Trump administration has once again placed “masculine qualities” at the forefront of American culture.
The 18-year-old youth from Virginia, Luke Ayer, said that the Epstein case reduced his confidence in Trump, but he believes that American culture is moving in the right direction again, away from some ‘irrelevant issues’.
El said, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel that people became crazy and overreacted. Now, I think we are on an upward trajectory. For young people like me, we need to bring back the American spirit."
Opponents accuse Trump of “abusing power”, stating that MMA fights are “too cruel”, and that holding such competitions in front of the White House is “inappropriate”.
Anti-Trump groups held protests near the White House, Reuters reported.
Some protesters held a protest rally near the White House. Karen Francis, a resident of Maryland, criticized that using the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and the U.S. military for combat competitions is “a desecration of America.” “This place belongs to the American public, not just one person. It’s simply disgusting.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, since White took over UFC in 2001, he and Trump have maintained close relations. After Trump’s first term ended, White often appeared at UFC events to gain the support of young male audiences.
Fighting sport analyst Luke Thomas is critical of Trump. He said that having an octagon set up in the White House is 'a reward that the UFC deserves,' but 'for me, that's the problem. I understand why fans of fighting sports would find this fight great, but the alliance between the UFC and the Trump administration is unacceptable to me.'
