Trump Marks His 80th Birthday at a UFC Event on the White House Lawn

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday at a UFC fight card held on the South Lawn of the White House, the first professional sporting event ever staged at the presidential residence. Trump and thousands of fans watched the main event, in which American fighter Justin Gaethje defeated Spain’s Georgi Ilia Topuria to win the lightweight title.

The evening was delayed by an hour because of thunderstorm concerns, but the bouts went ahead as planned. About 4,300 invited guests attended on the South Lawn, while roughly 85,000 more watched from a nearby viewing area. The night began with Trump walking from the White House to the cage alongside UFC president Dana White, followed by a military flyover. Fourteen fighters took part in the card, and the UFC spent about $60 million on the production, including about $700,000 to restore the grass afterward.

Among those present were senior administration officials, Trump’s two sons, and FBI Director Kash Patel, who was seen cheering fighters. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump at one point. The event also featured honor guards made up of Medal of Honor recipients and emergency responders, and Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes said, “It’s simply amazing,” after becoming the first fighter to win a bout ever held on the White House lawn.

The card was broadcast exclusively on Paramount+, owned by David Ellison, a Trump ally. Trump called it “the greatest show on Earth” and compared the massive “Claw” structure above the octagon to the Eiffel Tower. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the UFC as “the embodiment of American soft power” and announced a new partnership with private actors to promote U.S. interests abroad. Days before the event, a lawsuit sought to block it, alleging it was “deeply corrupt” and citing missing permits for a weigh-in at the Lincoln Memorial and close personal and financial ties between Trump, White and the UFC. A judge rejected the emergency request on Friday, and the White House dismissed the suit as “ridiculous and baseless.”