{"id":3776,"date":"2026-06-15T04:07:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T04:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3776"},"modified":"2026-06-15T04:07:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T04:07:31","slug":"trump-puts-himself-at-center-of-birthday-spectacle-his-own-and-americas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3776","title":{"rendered":"Trump puts himself at center of birthday spectacle \u2014 his own and America\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Even in this setting where the president could reliably expect a warm reception, his entrance was met with a mix of cheers and boos.<\/strong><\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3764\">Daichi Kamada\u2019s late header gives Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in World Cup opener for both<\/a><\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3766\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8be452cc8c1eacd8e884cb312d49be85-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>President Donald Trump arrives with UFC president and CEO Dana White. (Evan Vucci\/Reuters)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Since 2020, the White House\u2019s southern facade has served as the backdrop for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/hatch-act-republican-convention\/2020\/08\/25\/53b72b44-e6f8-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/hatch-act-republican-convention\/2020\/08\/25\/53b72b44-e6f8-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html\">Republican National Convention<\/a>, a rally preceding a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/interactive\/2021\/jan-6-insurrection-capitol\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/interactive\/2021\/jan-6-insurrection-capitol\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9\">mob attack on the Capitol<\/a>, and now, a mixed martial arts match celebrating President Donald Trump\u2019s 80th birthday.<\/p>\n<p>Trump opened his front lawn to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2026\/06\/13\/trump-dana-white-mma-brawls-white-house-are-culmination-long-friendship\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2026\/06\/13\/trump-dana-white-mma-brawls-white-house-are-culmination-long-friendship\/\">his friend Dana White<\/a>\u2019s sports league for a live spectacle to air on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2026\/06\/12\/justice-department-approves-paramounts-deal-buy-warner-bros\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2026\/06\/12\/justice-department-approves-paramounts-deal-buy-warner-bros\/\">his friend David Ellison<\/a>\u2019s streaming platform. A clawlike arched canopy loomed over the executive mansion\u2019s iconic colonnade, evoking the spaceship on the movie poster for the 1996 film \u201cIndependence Day.\u201d At least nine Cabinet secretaries attended, along with uniformed military service members the Pentagon required to look the part as defined by a prescribed \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2026\/05\/29\/pentagon-recruiting-troops-watch-white-house-ufc-fights-memos-show\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2026\/05\/29\/pentagon-recruiting-troops-watch-white-house-ufc-fights-memos-show\/\">height-waist ratio<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The use of White House grounds for a violent sporting event sponsored by light beer and cryptocurrencies was overwhelmingly unpopular, garnering the support of just 31 percent of Republicans and 11 percent of independents in a Reuters-Ipsos <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/few-americans-back-trumps-white-house-cage-match-plan-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-06-11\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/few-americans-back-trumps-white-house-cage-match-plan-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-06-11\/\">poll<\/a>. The president\u2019s overall approval ratings hit a second-term low in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/poll-democrats-maintain-edge-fight-congress-trump-gets-poor-marks-rcna348913\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/poll-democrats-maintain-edge-fight-congress-trump-gets-poor-marks-rcna348913\">new NBC survey,<\/a> and AP-NORC <a href=\"https:\/\/apnorc.org\/projects\/trump-has-lost-support-from-independents-over-the-course-of-his-second-term\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/apnorc.org\/projects\/trump-has-lost-support-from-independents-over-the-course-of-his-second-term\/\">polling<\/a> showed the blue-collar, independent and young voters who swung to him in the last election increasingly deserting him and his party over dissatisfaction with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2026\/06\/14\/why-voters-feel-so-bad-about-economy-what-it-means-november\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/business\/2026\/06\/14\/why-voters-feel-so-bad-about-economy-what-it-means-november\/\">inflation<\/a> and the Iran war that worsened it.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3767\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e96759483c22a75b6ccc26497c29e9cd-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Fans attend the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on the Ellipse, where corporate sponsors were in plain sight. (Kevin Dietsch\/via REUTERS)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3768\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a18a345432234f496ad31fb0f17b1889-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Plenty of fans were in attendance, although the event polled poorly. (Kevin Dietsch\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Even in this setting where Trump could reliably expect a warm reception, a boo stuck out among the cheers as he entered.<\/p>\n<p>The president wore a UFC lapel pin below his standard American flag as he and White walked out of the Oval Office, through the mansion, and emerged on a balcony as the band played \u201cHail to the Chief.\u201d The president saluted during the national anthem, while the broadcast showed images of active-duty sailors, and a delta formation of 12 fighter jets roared over the White House as country artist Zac Brown sang \u201cO\u2019er the land of the free.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have seen some surreal things in my life \u2014 this is the most surreal,\u201d podcaster Joe Rogan said on the official broadcast. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem real. None of it seems real. It\u2019s so crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s fight kicked off this summer\u2019s D.C.-anchored celebration of the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary, which have similarly become politicized by Trump\u2019s central role. Trump allies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/03\/05\/america-250-freedom-250-trump-celebration\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/03\/05\/america-250-freedom-250-trump-celebration\/\">sidestepped<\/a> a bipartisan commission and congressional funding to fundraise and organize events through their own vehicle.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3769\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/37b8b4472d3f9312a4500fe478ca5a3c-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Trump and White watch U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a flyover. (Jacquelyn Martin\/Jacquelyn Martin\/POOL AP via AP)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3770\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ccf84eeb8dd8c50cd316da4af97574a8-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>A view of the event on the South Lawn of the White House. (Evan Vucci\/Reuters)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3771\" height=\"727\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-1024x727.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-1024x727.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-768x545.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-1536x1091.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bc253320e1fa38460c8195a9ead82257-2048x1455.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Fans react as they watch the featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia on the big screen. (Tom Brenner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/2026\/05\/29\/freedom-250-concerts-cancellations-what-to-know\/c888dd0c-5b76-11f1-8a9d-afb1148204e1_story.html\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/2026\/05\/29\/freedom-250-concerts-cancellations-what-to-know\/c888dd0c-5b76-11f1-8a9d-afb1148204e1_story.html\">Musicians<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/11\/us\/politics\/great-american-state-fair.html\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/11\/us\/politics\/great-american-state-fair.html\">states<\/a> dropped out of participating in the 250 events, so that the headliner would be Trump himself holding another rally on the National Mall. Renovations of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/style\/power\/2026\/06\/11\/algae-forms-reflecting-pool-its-residual-trump-officials-say\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/style\/power\/2026\/06\/11\/algae-forms-reflecting-pool-its-residual-trump-officials-say\/\">Reflecting Pool<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/style\/2026\/06\/12\/kennedy-center-removes-trumps-name-building\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/style\/2026\/06\/12\/kennedy-center-removes-trumps-name-building\/\">Kennedy Center<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/05\/trump-reacts-recent-setbacks-with-anger-defiance-provocation\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/05\/trump-reacts-recent-setbacks-with-anger-defiance-provocation\/\">parks and fountains<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/05\/07\/trump-ballroom-white-house-event\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/05\/07\/trump-ballroom-white-house-event\/\">White House\u2019s East Wing<\/a> are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/04\/19\/trump-ballroom-public-mentions\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/04\/19\/trump-ballroom-public-mentions\/\">absorbing<\/a> the president\u2019s attention \u2014 a distraction in the view of most voters and some Republican strategists and politicians.<\/p>\n<p>Hours before the fight began, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/06\/14\/trump-says-us-iran-very-close-deal-urges-calm-after-israeli-strikes\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/06\/14\/trump-says-us-iran-very-close-deal-urges-calm-after-israeli-strikes\/\">heralded an end<\/a> to the Iran war after months of false starts and shifting deadlines. But the details of the agreement remained concealed on Sunday, with talks ongoing ahead of an official signing scheduled for Friday. The last time the administration announced a deal to stop the bombing and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it unraveled within days.<\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3761\">Webb sharp again, Giants beat Cubs 5-1 to avoid series sweep<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump spent the earlier hours of his birthday working to preserve the agreement after an Israeli attack in Lebanon. He also watched Fox News, criticizing an interview with Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) and praising an appearance by former adviser Victoria Coates. He posted repeatedly on social media denouncing opposition to his embattled acting spy chief, Bill Pulte, and taking a swipe at his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also held a small family dinner.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3772\" height=\"725\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-1024x725.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-1024x725.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-768x544.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-1536x1087.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/e5f50b9391a1e81a4e309ea6f7b88ea4-2048x1450.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Trump poses for a picture on his 80th birthday. (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>His 80th could not have been more different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/08\/bidens-trumps-80th-birthday-plans-could-hardly-be-more-different\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/08\/bidens-trumps-80th-birthday-plans-could-hardly-be-more-different\/\">from his predecessor\u2019s<\/a>, the only other president to<b> <\/b>mark that milestone in office. Public doubts about Trump\u2019s health and fitness have increased, polls show, but concerns do not rival those<b> <\/b>about Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<p>The White House has called the president\u2019s health \u201cexcellent.\u201d Trump insists he feels the same or better than decades ago, and<b> <\/b>that he\u2019d be the first to admit if he ever felt otherwise. Still, he is frequently reminded of the friends around his age who are getting sick and dying, and he speaks more often of the memory of his parents and his own place in history.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has used settings such as a UFC match, a Formula One race, a football game or a frat house to project an image of enduring vigor, as well as to appeal to young men with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/10\/10\/is-trump-campaigns-male-dominated-culture-losing-women-votes\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/10\/10\/is-trump-campaigns-male-dominated-culture-losing-women-votes\/\">unapologetic masculinity<\/a>, daring critics to recoil so that his team can mock them as weak and effeminate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just can\u2019t believe that we\u2019re at the White House watching UFC fights,\u201d former UFC champion Daniel Cormier said during the broadcast. \u201cI\u2019m so filled with like testosterone I want to kick someone in the chest, it\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3773\" height=\"731\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-1024x731.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/5a22f60a4ae2e9a237b23c991f1eb521-2048x1463.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Diego Lopes celebrates during a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia. (Mark Schiefelbein\/AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3774\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-1024x661.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-1024x661.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-1536x992.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/77fc826cd45b9b86abf9aa484cc3b14d-2048x1323.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Lopes, right, lands a kick against Garcia. (Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<p>On Saturday night, White stood steps from the site of Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial as he separated two competitors about to brawl at the night-before news conference. Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday\u2019s fight, heavyweight Josh Hokit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2026\/06\/11\/before-white-house-ufc-event-fighters-talk-trump\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2026\/06\/11\/before-white-house-ufc-event-fighters-talk-trump\/\">said<\/a> he might take off his pants and throw his cup at the president, perhaps as a souvenir for the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s role has been divisive even within the world of UFC. Featherweight Diego Lopes chafed at reports that his Spanish-language walkout song might offend the president; the Marine Band ended up playing it after all.<\/p>\n<p>One fighter not picked for Sunday\u2019s lineup <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/international\/article-898405\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/international\/article-898405\">attributed<\/a> the decision to his criticisms of Israel and the Iran war. Another said the government\u2019s entry into sports entertainment was \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/bryce-mitchell-criticizes-ufc-white-071114401.html?guccounter=1\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/bryce-mitchell-criticizes-ufc-white-071114401.html?guccounter=1\">desecrating<\/a> its role in society.\u201d UFC co-founder Rorion Gracie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ufc\/2026\/06\/11\/ufc-co-founder-rorion-gracie-white-house-fights\/90448144007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ufc\/2026\/06\/11\/ufc-co-founder-rorion-gracie-white-house-fights\/90448144007\/\">said<\/a> he won\u2019t watch the White House event because the sport has gotten too violent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst and foremost, got to thank President Trump for making this happen,\u201d middleweight fighter Bo Nickal said about winning his match. \u201cIt takes such a special person to be able to have the balls to do something like this.\u201d<\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3758\">Gina Kim and Yana Wilson team to win the Dow Championship for their first LPGA Tour titles<\/a><\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3775\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ae1e50c65ae51a39d60b181fc337790f-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figcaption>Bo Nickal celebrates a win against Kyle Daukaus (not pictured). (Amber Searls\/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump marked his 80th birthday with a UFC fight staged on White House grounds \u2014 a spectacle that underscored how he has sought to turn sports, historically an escape from politics, into another front in America&#8217;s divisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trump puts himself at center of birthday spectacle \u2014 his own and America\u2019s - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3776\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump puts himself at center of birthday spectacle \u2014 his own and America\u2019s - 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