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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday night with a celebration on the South Lawn, where 14 fighters from around the world beat each other inside a wire mesh cage during the UFC Freedom 250 show.
Trump left the Oval Office around 8:30 p.m. ET alongside UFC CEO and President Dana White in what was best described as a fighters’ walkout.
President Donald Trump and Dana White, president and CEO of the UFC, arrive at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 14, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
The estimated 4,300 attendees, including about 1,200 active-duty service members, greeted the president with loud cheers as the crowd occasionally chanted “Happy Birthday.”
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The event began with the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and culminated with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds.
“It was beyond anything anyone had ever seen in sports,” the president briefly told reporters as he left the White House ahead of Monday’s G7 summit in France.
President Donald Trump watches the conclusion of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
As expected, the crowd often chanted “United States!” sings several times during the night. It was heard most frequently during American Justin Gaethje’s thrilling main card victory over the previously undefeated Ilia Topuria.
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Many of the fighters thanked Trump for having the “courage” to put on the show, while most of the victors ran to the ring to shake his hand or talk to him after their respective bouts. The patriotic atmosphere set the tone for the remaining America 250 celebrations to be held in Washington, DC, later this summer.
The $60 million event was just the latest spectacle in Trump’s relationship with White.
President Donald Trump congratulates Ciryl Gane after his victory in an interim heavyweight title fight against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
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White has a long-standing relationship with the president, dating back to the first UFC event under his control, which was held in 2001 at Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has failed Trump’s election campaign twice, while Trump has attended four UFC fights as sitting president.
Sunday’s fight concluded shortly after 1 a.m. and featured two championship fights: Ciryl Gane of France won the interim UFC heavyweight title after a victory over Brazilian Alex Pereira, and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria fell to interim champion Justin Gaethje in four rounds.
President Donald Trump stands in the ring with Justin Gaethje after winning the lightweight championship fight over Ilia Toupruia at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
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- Justin Gaethje defeated. Ilia Topuria via stoppage before the fifth round
- Ciryl Gane defeated. Alex Pereira by technical knockout, round 2
- Sean O’Malley defeated. Aiemann Zahabi via KO, Round 2
- Josh Hokit defeats. Derrick Lewis by technical knockout, round 2
- Mauricio Ruffy defeated. Michael Chandler via KO/TKO, Round 1
- Bo Nickal defeated. Kyle Daukaus via KO/TKO, Round 1
- Diego López defeated. Steve Garcia via KO/TKO, Round 2
UFC Freedom 250 will take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Monday. June 15, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martín/AP)
