Trump turns the White House lawn into a stage for UFC, sports and politics

President Donald Trump is launching a week of high-profile sports spectacles in Washington, centered on a historic UFC event on the White House South Lawn. The administration created a new body called Freedom 250 to produce the projects alongside the congressional committee marking 250 years since U.S. independence. Trump said that during the UFC broadcast, the first television ad for the renamed “Department of War” will run, under the slogan “Peace Through Strength,” and that it will promote enlistment by young Americans.

The UFC card, scheduled for Sunday, will be the first mixed martial arts event ever held on the White House grounds. It is being staged on Flag Day and on Trump’s 80th birthday, with thousands of fans expected. Trump’s sports push also includes bringing an IndyCar Grand Prix to the National Mall later this summer, and he is trying to use the momentum of the World Cup, which opens this week and will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, to advance the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. French media reported that the opening of the G7 summit in France was delayed so it would not clash with what Trump called “the biggest show on Earth.”

The events have drawn accusations of “sportswashing” from rights groups and critics who say Trump is using sport to polish his image amid criticism over human rights, immigration policy and foreign conflicts, including operations in Venezuela and strikes in Iran. Sport management scholar Nick Watanabe and Sport & Rights Alliance chief executive Andrea Florence told Reuters that using sport as political power is typical of dictatorships and Gulf states. Democratic Congresswoman Sharice Davids, a former professional MMA fighter, also warned that politicizing the sport could damage its reputation.

Supporters say the projects reflect Trump’s long-standing enthusiasm for sports, his business instincts and his wish to build a legacy. His ties to MMA date back to 2000, when he hosted the first official UFC event at his Atlantic City casino. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the initiative “the definition of American soft diplomatic power” and announced a formal State Department-UFC partnership to promote combat sports as part of U.S. diplomacy. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wiles said Trump is “the biggest supporter of sports of any president in American history,” while Freedom 250 spokeswoman Julia Friedland said sports have long served as a shared language that unites Americans.

The main challenge may be weather. Meteorologist Jared Geyer told The New York Times that a strong system is expected to cross the East Coast, bringing severe thunderstorms to Washington, especially in the afternoon and evening, with damaging winds, lightning, large hail and even possible tornadoes. The city is also facing a heat wave, with temperatures expected around 35 Celsius after recent days with a heat index of 40.5. UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari said the organization is getting hourly forecasts and has built contingency plans, including a custom canopy over the cage and additional shade.