Thunderstorms threaten Trump's UFC cage fight on the White House lawn
Thousands are expected at the mixed martial arts fight, which coincides with Trump's 80th birthday.
Coverage by Political Leaning
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Notable Quotes
"the greatest show on Earth"
— Donald Trump , Politician
"Imagine being triggered by THE WEATHER."
— Gavin Newsom , Politician
"True snowflake behavior! ❄️"
— Gavin Newsom , Politician
"I would have never wanted to do it; I would have said we can’t do it; they have to be in a controlled environment."
— Joe Rogan , Influencer
"This event is about celebrating America’s unmatched greatness after 250 years—which apparently doesn’t sit well with the friendless loser who wrote this bulls--t clickbait headline."
— Dana White , Executive
"Are Americans ready for 'bloody cage fights on the White House’s South Lawn?'"
— Jack Crosbie , Other
"just how extensively Trump has remade the White House grounds to his liking"
— Erkki Forster , Other
"a royalist celebration of himself"
— David Frum , Other
Key People
Professional MMA fighter competing in heavyweight division.
Professional MMA fighter competing in heavyweight division.
Dana White is the president of the UFC and chief of Zuffa Boxing.
A political commentator for The Atlantic, known for his critiques of Donald Trump.
UFC fighter recognized for his clean drug tests.
Diego Lopes is a Brazilian mixed martial artist.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
A writer for The Daily Beast who discussed the construction at the White House.
Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California.
Commerce secretary during Trump's administration.
Current lightweight champion in UFC.
A writer for Rolling Stone who commented on the UFC event at the White House.
JD Vance is a United States Senator from Ohio and a prominent figure in conservative politics.
Joe Rogan is a popular podcast host known for discussing a wide range of topics, including politics.
Josh Hokit is a professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC.
Interim lightweight champion in UFC.
The former Chief of Staff for the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.
U.S. Secretary of State.
Michelle Obama is a former First Lady of the United States and known for her advocacy for healthy living.
Pete Hegseth is the United States Secretary of Defense.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental attorney and activist.
Scott Bessent is the Treasury Secretary.
Steve Garcia is an American mixed martial artist.
Tyson Fury is a British professional boxer and heavyweight champion.
A contributor to MS.now who criticized Trump's architectural decisions.
Tags
All Coverage
Thousands are expected at the mixed martial arts fight, which coincides with Trump's 80th birthday.
President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday with a UFC fight night on the White House South Lawn, featuring seven all-male fights under a massive structure called 'The Claw', blending patriotic fanfare with combat sports.
President Trump's team faced ridicule after reacting angrily to a weather forecast predicting rain and storms during his 80th birthday UFC fight event on the White House South Lawn, with the Weather Channel warning of severe weather that could delay the fights.
President Trump's 80th birthday UFC fight night on the White House South Lawn faced a weather-related delay after the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning, prompting the event to be postponed by an hour due to safety concerns.
In a historic event, the UFC hosted a fight night on the White House South Lawn to celebrate President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, featuring patriotic ceremonies and high-profile fighters.
For the celebration of both his 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary on June 14, 2026, President Trump is staging an unprecedented event: a card of seven UFC mixed martial arts fights on the White House South Lawn, reflecting his strong ties to the sport and its CEO, Dana White.
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