{"id":2614076,"date":"2026-06-15T02:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T06:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-mixes-sports-and-patriotism-with-ufc-freedom-250-show\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T02:25:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T06:25:15","slug":"trump-mixes-sports-and-patriotism-with-ufc-freedom-250-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-mixes-sports-and-patriotism-with-ufc-freedom-250-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 show"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-mixes-sports-and-patriotism-with-ufc-freedom-250-show%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614076&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On June 15, 2026, the White House hosted UFC Freedom 250 in celebration of America&#8217;s 250th birthday and President Donald Trump&#8217;s 80th. The event featured a theatrical fight night on the South Lawn, with a 4,300-strong crowd of military personnel, officials, business leaders, and celebrities. Trump, relaxed and receiving a hero\u2019s welcome, was accompanied by UFC President Dana White and notable guests like zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins. The night included national anthems, military flyovers, and fights with patriotic and political undertones, such as chants about Canada and comments on Michelle Obama. Trump received praise from fighters for hosting the event, while critics like Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned it as a self-serving use of the White House. Security was heightened across Washington, D.C.,due to the event,which also coincided with various festivities,including concerts and official weigh-ins. The event was controversial, with accusations of it being a spectacle that prioritized personal and political interests over public service.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a night of pageantry and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mixed martial arts brutality<\/a> at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> as President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> brought fight night to the South Lawn for America\u2019s 250th birthday and his 80th.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A relaxed Trump, hours after announcing a peace deal with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> is expected to be signed on Friday, received a hero\u2019s welcome at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4608299\/ufc-fighter-josh-hokit-mocks-michelle-obama\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>UFC fighter Josh Hokit mocks Michelle Obama in victory speech<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4608251\/sean-strickland-ufc-white-house-event-secret-service\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Sean Strickland removed from UFC White House event by Secret Service<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4608247\/eric-trump-denies-asking-ufc-star-white-house-fights-rigged\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Eric Trump denies asking former UFC star if White House fights were rigged<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cameras followed Trump and UFC President and CEO <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dana-white\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4581\">Dana White<\/a> from the Oval Office to the South Portico, where they were greeted with Hail to the Chief, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chris-stapleton-delivers-moving-rendition-of-national-anthem-at-super-bowl-lvii\/\" title=\"Chris St...leton Delivers Moving Rendition Of National Anthem At Super Bowl LVII\">national anthem rendition<\/a> by the Zac Brown Band, and a building-rattling 12-plane military flyover from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds before they found their Octagon ringside seats near the president\u2019s family.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump, right, and Dana White, president and CEO of UFC, left, stand in the ring after Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-weekend-sports-watch-round-2-all-you-need-to-know\/\" title=\"The Weekend Sports Watch Round 2: All You Need To Know\">lightweight title bout<\/a> during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The White House promised the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> last week that having the UFC Freedom 250 \u201cspectacle take place at the People\u2019s House on Flag Day during our nation\u2019s semiquincentennial anniversary\u201d would be \u201ca fitting tribute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Trump, a former reality TV star known for expressing his lighting and other production preferences to staff, and even news outlets, delivered in terms of theatrics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 4,300-person crowd featured many uniformed and non-uniformed military personnel, Cabinet officials, titans of business and technology, and media luminaries, who were presumably grateful a predicted storm did not break over what the UFC called \u201cThe Claw.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is a fever dream.   50\/50 percent chance Aliens land during this UFC card. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EtACnxQhJm\">pic.twitter.com\/EtACnxQhJm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/stoolpresidente\/status\/2066322894854955417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHappy birthday, President Trump!\u201d one attendee shouted after the bell started the first bout between featherweight fighters Brazilian Diego Lopes and American Steve Garcia. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Lopes knocked out Garcia and American middleweight fighter Bo Nickal did the same to compatriot Kyle Daukaus, Nickal thanked Trump and White for making UFC Freedom 250 happen.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes such a special person to be able to have the balls to do something like this, and I have so much respect for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">American heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit also praised Trump for \u201chaving the balls to put some s\u2013t like this on,\u201d after placing his chain around the neck of the president and before claiming former first lady <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michelle-obama\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"841\">Michelle Obama<\/a> is a man.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump took the chain off shortly after Hokit\u2019s comments about Obama to interviewer Joe Rogan in the ring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Newly crowned lightweight champion American Justin Gaethje also reflected on the moment: \u201cI\u2019m from America. 250 years ago, we were way bigger than 6:1 [under]dogs, and look at us thriving now.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fireworks go off as Justin Gaethje celebrates after defeating Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title bout during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (Saul Loeb\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Politics was never far from the fights, with someone shouting during American bantamweight fighter Sean O\u2019Malley\u2019s bout against Canadian Aiemann Zahabi, \u201cCanada is the 51st state!\u201d  <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump, who wore a \u201cUSA\u201d baseball cap during that fight, has sought to provoke Canada by raising the prospect of annexation before the province of Alberta votes in October on whether to remain part of the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attendees on Sunday also included Paramount Skydance chairman and CEO and Trump mega-donor Larry Ellison, whose streaming service had exclusive broadcast rights to the fights, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/meta\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8910\">Meta<\/a> CEO <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-zuckerberg\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"312\">Mark Zuckerberg<\/a>, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who settled their lawsuit with Zuckerberg over allegations he stole their idea for Facebook. That is not to mention congressional leaders, such as House Speaker <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"7043\">Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"178\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zuckerberg was seen speaking with Trump between rounds, as his son Barron spoke with others who approached his father.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier in the night, Secretary of War <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> was similarly seen speaking with some troops in a video captured by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1637\">Federal Communications Commission<\/a> Chairman Brendan Carr.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Secretary of War Hegseth with some fired up troops. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rQr37kslBb\">pic.twitter.com\/rQr37kslBb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrendanCarrFCC\/status\/2066325779353338053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Democrats criticized the $60 million event for being self-enriching for Trump, his family, and his supporters amid legal challenges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe White House was built to serve the American people,\u201d Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom <\/a>(D-CA) wrote on X. \u201cTonight it was used to promote a company the President owns stock in, sell subscriptions, promote corporate sponsors, push Trump crypto, and enrich the President and his family. The founders warned us about kings enriching themselves from public office. They did not fight a revolution for this.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The White House was built to serve the American people.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight it was used to promote a company the President owns stock in, sell subscriptions, promote corporate sponsors, push Trump crypto, and enrich the President and his family.<\/p>\n<p>The founders warned us about kings enriching\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GavinNewsom\/status\/2066382590391783878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security was tight at the White House before and throughout the event, despite lightweight title contenders American Gaethje and Georgian and Spanish Ilia Topuria coming out of the Oval Office, UFC broadcasting their pre- and post- show from the White House\u2019s Green Room, and the fighters using the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as their locker room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4607206\/trump-turning-80-celebrates-age-ufc-birthday\/\"><strong>TRUMP, TURNING 80, CELEBRATES HIS AGE WITH BIG UFC BIRTHDAY BASH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security was also tight across Washington, D.C., with flight disruptions because of airspace closures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fights capped a weekend of programming, including the official face-offs and ceremonial weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial, the Zac Brown Band performing on the Ellipse as part of a fan festival, and even Ja Rule performing at Donald Trump Jr\u2019s exclusive Executive Branch Club in Georgetown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump hosts UFC fight night at White House for 250th anniversary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2614077,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26166203244237.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7825,42907,3634,8095],"class_list":["post-2614076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-patriotism","tag-sports-event","tag-trump","tag-ufc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26166203244237.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614076"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614080,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614076\/revisions\/2614080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}