Trump Celebrates 80th Birthday with UFC Event

Washington – President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday on the South Lawn Sunday night, featuring 14 fighters from around the globe battling in a chain-link cage for the UFC Freedom 250 event.

Trump made a dramatic entrance from the Oval Office at around 8:30 p.m. ET, joined by UFC CEO Dana White, resembling a fighter’s walkout.

Approximately 4,300 attendees, including about 1,200 active military members, welcomed the president with cheers and birthday chants.

UFC: No Profit Expected from White House Event

The event kicked off with the Marines singing the national anthem, performed by Zac Brown, and culminated in a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds. Before heading to the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump told reporters, “This is unlike anything anyone has ever seen in the world of sports.”

Throughout the night, chants of “USA!” echoed, particularly during American Justin Gaethje’s exciting victory over undefeated fighter Ilya Topria.

White on Friendship with Trump

Many fighters expressed gratitude to Trump for his “courage” in hosting the event, and most winners jogged to ringside post-fight to shake hands. This patriotic celebration prepared the stage for America’s 250th anniversary festivities scheduled for later this summer.

The extravagant, $60 million event marked yet another collaboration in the Trump-White dynamic.

White’s ties with Trump go way back to 2001, when the first UFC event under White’s management took place at Trump’s Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Trump has attended four UFC fights during his presidency, despite a couple of stumbles on the campaign trail.

Sunday’s event wrapped up around 1 a.m., featuring two championship bouts. France’s Cyrille Gane triumphed over Brazil’s Alex Pereira to claim the interim heavyweight title, while lightweight champion Ilya Topuria fell to interim champion Justin Gaethje.