White House Lawn Gets a UFC Octagon as Trump Celebrates 80th Birthday and America's 250th Anniversary

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A UFC Fight Night at the White House

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Crews are building an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn for the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event. The fight night doubles as Trump's 80th birthday party and a Flag Day celebration.

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The card features two championship bouts: Brazil's Alex Pereira vs. France's Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, and lightweight champ Ilia Topuria vs. interim champ Justin Gaethje. Fans online have called the lineup underwhelming.

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Demand for the 85,000 free tickets is huge. A marching band will sit ringside, and massive screens at the Ellipse will show the action live. The whole setup promises a spectacle right outside the White House.

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Trump's White House Makeover Continues with UFC Arena

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The temporary UFC cage is the latest addition to Trump's White House building spree. The event is part of a series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, alongside an IndyCar race and a state fair.

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Trump has already overhauled the Rose Garden with a Mar-a-Lago-style patio, added a Presidential Walk of Fame, and plans a 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial. The East Wing was demolished for a ballroom.

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Weigh-ins for the UFC fight will happen at the Lincoln Memorial. The blend of personal birthday celebration and national anniversary has drawn both praise and criticism for its partisan tone.

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The Costly and Opaque UFC Event at the White House

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Sponsorship packages for the UFC fight run up to $1.5 million, yet the White House and UFC haven't disclosed where that money goes. The ticketing process is extremely opaque.

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While tickets are free, distribution is controlled by Trump, UFC CEO Dana White, and others. Trump holds 1,000 tickets, White has 200, and the rest allegedly go to military members — but no one knows for sure.

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The event costs $60 million. UFC covers the ring construction, but taxpayers foot the security bill. Critics call it a cash grab that blurs the line between personal celebration and public office.