(FILE) US President Donald Trump (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to mark his 80th birthday in a highly unconventional way — by hosting a live UFC cage fight on the White House lawn.
Speaking in Virginia on Sunday, Trump revealed that the event will take place on June 14, 2026, and will feature fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) — the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.
“This will be something like you’ve never seen before,” Trump told a crowd at Norfolk Naval Base, adding that the spectacle would be part of the build-up to America’s 250th Independence anniversary in July.
The UFC, known for its intense, unscripted bouts that blend boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and other martial arts, is no stranger to Trump.
He’s long been a public supporter of the league and its president, Dana White, who has openly campaigned for Trump and remains one of his closest allies in the sports world.
Unlike the theatrics of professional wrestling, UFC fights are real, often brutal contests where knockouts and bloodied fighters are common. Trump’s proposed celebration promises to combine the high-energy spectacle of the sport with the symbolism of presidential pageantry.
In September, the White House unveiled conceptual images showing a traditional UFC octagon set up on the South Lawn, surrounded by tiered spectator seating and illuminated by a massive arch of floodlights.
According to White, the UFC will foot the bill — approximately $700,000 — to restore the lawn after the event.
Adding to the drama, the fighters’ official weigh-in — a staple of UFC showmanship — will be held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, located roughly two kilometers from the White House. The historic monument, built over a century ago, will serve as a grand stage for what’s already being dubbed Trump’s “birthday brawl.”
While Trump had originally tied the idea to the July 4 Semiquincentennial celebrations, he has since shifted the date to coincide with his own birthday. No explanation was offered for the change, but the former president seemed energized by the idea of combining political theatre, combat sports, and national pride.
The event, if it goes ahead, would mark the first time a mixed martial arts fight is staged on White House grounds — a move as controversial as it is unprecedented.
DPA
