Trump marked his 80th birthday with an Iran deal and cage fights near the White House
Kyiv • UNN
Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a UFC tournament on the White House lawn, postponing his visit to the G7 summit. The organization of the fights cost 60 million dollars.
U.S. President Donald Trump postponed his arrival in Evian, France, where G7 leaders are set to gather, to host UFC fights on the South Lawn of the White House for his 80th birthday, which took place on Sunday, UNN reports, citing Euronews.
Details
"Personalization of politics," "provocation," "a display of machismo" — this is how critics reacted to Donald Trump's decision to celebrate his 80th birthday by organizing mixed martial arts (MMA) fights on the White House lawn.
In the heart of American democracy, the 47th U.S. President watched alongside thousands of cheering fans as Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters pummeled each other. Before the fights began, Trump signed a framework settlement agreement with Iran.
Trump announced a deal with Iran and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz14.06.26, 23:53 • 6968 views
Early in the evening, Trump, a long-time fan of mixed martial arts, emerged from the Oval Office and walked along the West Wing colonnade with UFC President Dana White. The pair stood on the Truman Balcony during the national anthem and a flyover by 12 military aircraft. Following the fights, a fireworks display was held at the massive arena.
Officially, the event is intended to mark the beginning of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
More than 4,000 spectators were invited to the temporary arena under "The Claw," a metal arch resembling a spacecraft. Thousands more watched on large screens at the nearby Ellipse.
At the same time, a number of invited "stars," including Dwayne Johnson, Jared Leto, Adam Sandler, and Guy Ritchie, chose to decline the invitation.
The White House claims that the UFC fully covered the $60 million cost of hosting the event.
There was also criticism regarding the commercialization of the event, which featured logos for Bud Light beer and the betting platform Polymarket, in which Trump's eldest son holds a stake. The ostentatious luxury of the event raised questions amid rising inflation caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Two Americans filed a corruption lawsuit, alleging that Donald Trump enriched himself as a result of the fights by purchasing $50,000 worth of shares in the UFC's parent company. In their eyes, a conflict of interest is also presented by the fact that the head of the UFC is one of the U.S. President's close friends and allies. These allegations, as well as accusations of illegal use of public space, were dismissed by the White House.
Before the fights began, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, known for his sharp criticism of Israel, was escorted out by a dense ring of law enforcement. According to ESPN, Justin Gaethje triumphed at the tournament, defeating Ilia Topuria by technical knockout in the fourth round to become the lightweight champion.
Despite the heat and humidity, Trump wore a suit and tie and sat stone-faced for most of the time, watching the bouts through the metal mesh of the cage. During another pause in Sunday's fights, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg approached Trump, and they spoke for several minutes.
Observers note that the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations was rescheduled for Donald Trump's birthday.
The head of the White House insisted that he would first enjoy the cage-fighting party and only then fly to Europe for the summit.
However, the weekend did not pass in an entirely festive mood for Trump. Workers removed Trump's name from the facade of the Kennedy Center, about a mile and a half from the site of his birthday celebration, after a judge ruled that renaming the institution after the president had gone too far.
Political scientists emphasize that all of this stood in stark contrast to how Trump's predecessor, U.S. President Joe Biden, celebrated his 80th birthday in November 2022. He limited himself to a family brunch within a small circle at the White House.
Responding to questions about the contrast, White House spokesperson Allison Schuster called the UFC tournament "one of the most spectacular nights in American history." "The fact that the show took place in the 'people's house' on Flag Day, and in the year of our country's 250th anniversary, is a fitting tribute to the holiday," the statement read.