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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 fought in a wire 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 described as a fighter’s walkout.
President Donald Trump and UFC Chairman and CEO Dana White arrive for UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 14, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
The approximately 4,300 people in attendance, including about 1,200 active-duty military personnel, greeted the president with loud cheers while every now and then a “Happy Birthday” was shouted from the crowd.
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The event began with the Marine Band’s rendition of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and concluded with a flypast by the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds.
“It was beyond anything anyone had ever seen in sports,” the president briefly remarked to reporters as he left the White House ahead of Monday’s G7 summit in France.
President Donald Trump attends the conclusion of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 15, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
As expected, the crowd often erupted into “USA!” » sings several times throughout the evening. It was most often heard during American Justin Gaethje’s thrilling main card victory over previously undefeated Ilia Topuria.
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Many fighters thanked Trump for having the “courage” to put on the spectacle, while the majority of winners ran to ringside to shake his hand or say a word after their respective fights. The patriotic atmosphere set the tone for other America 250 celebrations taking place 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, held in 2001 at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was stumped on Trump’s campaign trail twice, while Trump attended four UFC fights as a sitting president.
Sunday’s fight ended just after 1 a.m. and featured two championship bouts – Frenchman Ciryl Gane won the UFC interim 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 against 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 def. Ilia Topuria via a stoppage before Round 5
- Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira via TKO, round 2
- Sean O’Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi via KO, round 2
- Josh Hokit def. Derrick Lewis via TKO, round 2
- Mauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler via KO/TKO, round 1
- Bo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus via KO/TKO, round 1
- Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia via KO/TKO, round 2
UFC Freedom 250 will take place Monday on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. June 15, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
