Donald Trump spent his 80th birthday watching people punch each other in the face on the White House lawn. That’s not a joke. That’s what happened Sunday at UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event held inside a temporary metal structure called “the Claw” on the South Lawn. The event was officially part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations for the Declaration of Independence, but the timing also lined up perfectly with Trump’s birthday. He sat ringside with his wife Melania and UFC boss Dana White.
The night had everything you’d expect from a Trump-era spectacle. A 12-jet flyover roared overhead during the national anthem. The U.S. Marine Corps band played YMCA, a Trump rally favorite. Between fights, the broadcast mixed brutal knockouts with video clips of old speeches from Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Most of the fighters who won took a moment to thank Trump for putting on the event. One went further. Josh Hokit, a heavyweight who beat Derrick Lewis by knockout in the second round, shouted out Trump “for having the balls” to host the fights, then added: “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America!” The comment got cheers from some of the crowd.
The main event delivered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. American Justin Gaethje, a heavy underdog, beat undefeated champion Ilia Topuria after four bloody rounds. Topuria’s corner stopped the fight between rounds because his face was so badly swollen and damaged. Joe Rogan called it one of the greatest upsets ever. The Trump family climbed into the octagon afterward for photos.
The only Canadian on the card was Aiemann Zahabi, a bantamweight from Montreal. He came out to O Canada and then Drake’s “Started from the Bottom.” But once the fight started, the crowd chanted “USA! USA!” Someone shouted “Canada is the 51st state!” Zahabi lost by knockout to American Sean O’Malley in the second round. Trump put on a white “USA” hat during the fight and applauded O’Malley’s win.
Not every fighter was happy to be there. UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who used to support Trump but has since become an outspoken critic of the president and the war in Iran, was not invited. He showed up anyway and was escorted out of the fan zone by police, barefoot and wearing a black jacket, as fans chased after him trying to get photos.
The event was so important to Trump that it actually moved the G7 summit. The annual meeting of world leaders was supposed to start Sunday in France. Instead, they pushed it back a day so Trump could attend his birthday fight night before flying overseas.
Who Attended UFC Freedom 250?
Celebrities and public figures from across the worlds of sports, business, and politics were scattered among the 4,300 guests at the White House for UFC Freedom 250. While Dana White’s original star-studded invite list ended up with many notable no-shows, quite a few familiar faces still made the trip.
The First Family
President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump: The hosts of the evening celebrated his 80th birthday ringside.
Trump Family: Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and 18-year-old Barron Trump were all spotted around “The Claw”.
Politics and Big Business
Mark Zuckerberg: The Meta CEO was seated prominently, chatting with the President and other officials before entering the Octagon to congratulate a fighter after his win.
David Ellison: The Paramount Global CEO and major Trump ally had a ringside seat.
Kash Patel & Mike Johnson: The FBI Director and Speaker of the House represented the upper echelons of the U.S. government.
Sir Christian Turner: The UK’s ambassador to the US was also on hand to witness the spectacle.
The Sports World
Tyson Fury: The British boxing superstar made a surprise cameo, walking out in a gold tracksuit and a cap reading “Donald Trump for Prime Minister”.
Maxx Crosby: The Raiders’ all-pro defensive end was an invited guest and close friend of the evening’s host, Dana White.
Roman Reigns: The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion was there to watch the fights play out in the octagon.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: The former Swedish soccer superstar was picked up by cameras in the stands, a guest of the UFC.
Matthew & Brady Tkachuk: The NHL star brothers, who both play for U.S.-based teams, were in attendance to support the event.
Those Who Didn’t Show Up
The Big No-Shows: Despite reports that UFC president Dana White had invited Adam Sandler, Tom Brady, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jason Statham, Jared Leto, and Mario Lopez, none of these A-listers were photographed or reported to have attended. The Independent described the scene as having “few recognizable guests” from Hollywood.
FAQs
Q. How did Donald Trump spend his 80th birthday?
A. Trump attended UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn.
Q. What was the main event at UFC Freedom 250?
A. Justin Gaethje beat undefeated champion Ilia Topuria to win the UFC lightweight title.
Q. What made the event unique?
A. The fights were held inside a temporary structure called “the Claw” on the White House lawn.
Q. What happened with Sean Strickland?
A. Sean Strickland reportedly attended the event area despite not being invited. He was later escorted from the fan zone by police.
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