UFC Fight at White House South Lawn Set for Trump’s Birthday, Troops Face Physical Requirements
5 verified6 unconfirmed
President Donald Trump is hosting a Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House South Lawn scheduled for June 14, his 80th birthday. Construction of an octagonal fighting cage, decorated with star-spangled arches, has begun on the White House campus. Military personnel invited to attend must meet specific physical requirements, including height and weight standards, according to internal Pentagon memos. The event is being organized by UFC president Dana White, a longtime friend of Trump, who is a dedicated fan of the sport. Tickets will not be sold to the general public, with some reserved for U.S. service members and others available through guest packages. Trump has also made stock purchases in UFC’s parent company earlier this year.
What’s verified
President Donald Trump is hosting a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn.
The event is scheduled for June 14, which is Trump’s 80th birthday.
Construction of an octagonal fighting cage is underway on the South Lawn.
Troops attending the event must meet physical requirements, including height and weight standards.
UFC president Dana White is organizing the event and is a longtime friend of Trump.
Not yet confirmed
The estimated cost of the event is $60 million, with the UFC reportedly covering expenses, according to one source.
Guest packages for the event could cost up to $1.5 million apiece, per a single report.
Trump reportedly purchased as much as $50,000 in stock for UFC’s parent company earlier this year, according to one source.
Pentagon memos reportedly specify that only junior-level officers are being solicited and that troops must meet a specific waist-height ratio, according to a single source.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously criticized “fat troops” and targeted certain hairstyles in the military, per one report.
It is unclear how many troops will meet the physical requirements to attend.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Dana White, UFC president
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Sources: vox.com, motherjones.com
