A $60 million UFC tournament was held at the White House to celebrate Trump's 80th birthday
On his 80th birthday, U.S. President Donald Trump organized an unprecedented sporting event—the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts tournament—on the grounds of the official presidential residence.
Together with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion, led by his close friend Dana White, the American leader transformed the heart of American democracy into a fighting arena for the first time in history.
Professional athletes entered the cage directly from the Oval Office, sparking a wave of both excitement among fans and sharp criticism from political opponents and human rights advocates.
The legendary South Lawn of the White House was transformed into a mini-colosseum with an octagon ring and a towering 600-ton canopy with lighting, which the organizers dubbed “The Claw.”
Never before had a major professional sporting event been held on the grounds of the U.S. presidential residence.
Trump’s return to power was marked by numerous large-scale interior changes, including the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a grand ballroom.
The fight night, scheduled for June 14 (the night of June 15 in Kyiv), was officially timed to coincide with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence.
However, the coincidence of the date with the head of state’s anniversary clearly demonstrated who exactly was the main instigator of the celebration.
Due to the event’s importance to the American leader, even France was forced to adjust the G7 summit schedule to avoid overlapping coverage in the global media.
This massive event became a reality thanks to the 25-year friendship between Trump and UFC President Dana White.
The promotion covered all financial costs, which amounted to at least $60 million, including an additional $700,000 for the subsequent restoration of the damaged turf.
The U.S. president has already compared the arena’s unique temporary structure to the Eiffel Tower and expressed a desire to keep it permanently.
“This is the most powerful marketing event of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation event,” said Mark Shapiro, president of the UFC’s parent company, TKO Holding Group.
The event attracted a large number of global celebrities, including Guy Ritchie, Jared Leto, Jason Statham, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Famous athletes Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk were also spotted in VIP seats costing $1.5 million. Before the show began, Usyk held a private meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
Despite its star-studded lineup, the tournament was marred by serious scandals regarding the selection criteria for military personnel in the audience and allegations of corruption.
It turned out that Trump had purchased shares in the UFC’s parent company in advance and launched the sale of branded commemorative coins bearing his own autograph for up to $12,000.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 46% of Americans consider such use of the presidential residence completely inappropriate.
“Using public property for personal gain—that is the true essence of this administration. It sends a signal to the very rich and powerful that they are beyond the reach of the law, and that is the real danger of such corruption,” said Brendan Ballou, a representative of the Public Integrity Project.
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