Donald Trump Enters the Cage with Melania to Celebrate USA Fighter’s Title Triumph in Front of Star-studded Crowd as he Lauds Success of UFC White House Spectacular
By ALEX RASKIN, US SPORTS NEWS EDITOR and ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR and ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday bash at UFC Freedom 25 ended inside the octagon on the White House’s South Lawn, where the newest octogenarian and his family congratulated Justin Gaethje for his stoppage victory over Ilia Topuria in the co-main event.
Only moments earlier, the exuberant American fighter did a backflip of the cage before shaking hands with the President, who had put on a white ‘USA’ hat by the evening’s final event.
Although the event was named in honor of the country’s upcoming 250th birthday, Sunday was also aimed at celebrating Trump as he entered his ninth decade. So, while much of the night was spent honoring service members and raising money for veteran’s charities, there were also helpings of praise and gifts heaped upon the President.
Wearing an American flag bandana, undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit exited the octagon to present the President with a glimmering necklace just moments after knocking out Derrick Lewis. The gracious Trump promptly put the Mr. T-style chain around his neck amid cheers from the 4,000 attendees on the White House’s South Lawn.
As for the other main event, Ciryl Gane hammered Alex Pereira with a series of elbows and fists to the head and won via TKO in 1:27 of the second round to claim the interim belt and set up a rematch with heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall. And like the bulk of the fighters who had their hands raised in victory, Gane thanked Trump.
The White House’s South Lawn was never an obvious choice for a UFC event, but at Trump’s insistence, promoter Dana White acquiesced. And although many liberal critics of the President complained about the optics of cage fighting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, MMA fans and the MAGA faithful were quick to declare the night an unqualified success.
🚨TRENDING: Justin Gaethje shaking hands with Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/8vv5MrVi7z
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Trump, Melania, Dana White and others crowd into the octagon after UFC Freedom 250
President Donald Trump stands on the ring with Justin Gaethje after he won the title over Ilia Toupruia in the lightweight championship bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn
Melania Trump is pictured alongside Donald on his 80th birthday at UFC Freedom 250
Kai Trump (left) is pictured with uncle, Barron as he talks with the President in front of Swedish soccer great Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who took a pass on watching his country’s World Cup game
Fireworks are seen over the White House following UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn
Fans react as they watch Ilia Topuria fight Justin Gaethje from the Ellipse in Washington
The night began with a chorus of trumpets as Trump sauntered in from the White House alongside White before the Zak Brown Band’s rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. A 12-jet flyover followed as AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ blared over loudspeakers – a somewhat ironic decision as the event was delayed by thunderstorm forecasts in the area.
But the weather couldn’t stop Trump’s inner circle from gathering cageside.
First Lady Melania Trump was escorted to her seat by a uniformed servicemember and she was later joined by 20-year-old son Barron in a rare public appearance for the President’s youngest child.
Many top officials made grand entrances, including secretaries Scott Bessent (Treasury), Pete Hegseth (Defense) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services) and Howard Lutnick (Commerce), House Speaker Mike Johnson and FBI director Kash Patel, who brought his country singer girlfriend Alexis Wilkins.
Vice President JD Vance was also spotted in the crowd, while homeland security advisor Stephen Miller was joined by his wife, Katie, just 11 days after she gave birth to the couple’s fourth child.
Other Trump supporters in attendance included billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe and influencer Logan Paul, as well as a number of high-ranking UFC champions.
And as is usually the case whenever Trump attends UFC events, there was plenty of family on hand, including daughter Ivanka, her brothers Donald Jr. and Eric, as well as their wives, Bettina and Lara, and granddaughter Kai.
Original source: https://www.dailymail.com/sport/mma/article-15899411/White-House-UFC-Freedom-250-Trump-birthday.html