President Donald Trump has discovered a brand new method to mark his eightieth birthday: by turning the White Home garden into an Final Preventing Championship enviornment.
Trump first talked about the thought of internet hosting a UFC occasion on the White Home in July. On Sunday, throughout a meandering speech celebrating the Navy’s upcoming 250th anniversary at Virginia’s Naval Station Norfolk, he confirmed it’s formally on.
“On June 14 next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House—right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House,” he mentioned, failing to say that June 14 additionally occurs to be his eightieth birthday.
UFC fighter Conor McGregor speaks at a press briefing on the White Home in March.
The occasion will likely be a part of “America250,” a collection of celebrations commemorating 250 years because the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless it additionally appears to be the newest instance of Trump turning a nationwide second right into a spectacle centered squarely on himself.
The retired Irish fighter—who was discovered answerable for sexual assault in a civil case—mentioned that the deal was “done, signed, delivered, it ain’t a negotiation.”
UFC President Dana White, a longtime ally of Trump, has additionally been hyping the occasion.
“In February, we’ll start looking at building the White House card, which I will right now tell you will be the greatest fight card ever assembled in the history of, at least, definitely this company,” White mentioned at a post-fight press convention over the weekend.
White, who informed the Sports activities Enterprise Journal that the UFC expects to spend about $700,000 to switch the South Garden after the occasion, additionally threw chilly water on McGregor’s huge discuss.
“You can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card,” he mentioned, “but nothing is done yet, and no fights are being negotiated with the White House.”
Notably, McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021.
UFC President Dana White
Trump’s connection to the UFC runs deep—he gave the game a platform in its early days when few venues would host it and has remained a loyal fan ever since. He’s a frequent attendee at fights, leaning on the game’s fan base of younger males as a part of his political coalition.
Absolutely, he’ll be hoping that this White Home combat evening goes smoother than his final birthday bash, which coincided with the Military’s 250th anniversary. Internet hosting a multimillion-dollar army parade on his 79th birthday, Trump referred to as it a “tremendous success,” although it was overshadowed by huge nationwide “No Kings” protests.
That occasion included 150 army autos, 6,000 troopers, and about $45 million in prices, together with street repairs after the tanks rolled by Washington.
Trump has tried tanks, parades, and pageantry—now it’s cage fights. Completely different yr, identical story: one other taxpayer-funded birthday present to himself.
