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FRANCE 24

In Pictures: Trump marks 80th birthday with White House UFC spectacle

UFC Donald Trump United States Evan Vucci Diego Lopes Steve Garcia White House (Facility) Dana White the South Lawn the White House
US President Donald Trump and UFC president and CEO Dana White watch the US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels perform a fly over the White House.
US President Donald Trump and UFC president and CEO Dana White watch the US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels perform a fly over the White House on June 14, 2026. © Jacquelyn Martin, AFP

US President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday with a highly unusual White House spectacle, hosting a UFC cage fight on the South Lawn just hours after announcing a memorandum of understanding with Iran, in a made-for-television display blending politics, sport and patriotic pageantry.

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with an extraordinary display of political machismo on Sunday, staging a cage fight on the White House lawn hours after announcing a memorandum of understanding with Iran.

In unprecedented scenes, Trump walked out of the Oval Office alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White and headed towards the giant arena dubbed “The Claw”.

On the way, the reality TV star-turned-president mounted the historic Truman Balcony and saluted while the national anthem played and 12 US military jets staged a noisy flyover of the White House.

Trump then took his place on the South Lawn, beside the mesh-fenced cage called the Octagon, where 14 fighters beat each other bloody in the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House, in an event dubbed "UFC Freedom 250."

A view of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
A view of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
US President Donald Trump and President and CEO of UFC Dana White make their way to the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts event.
US President Donald Trump and President and CEO of UFC Dana White make their way to the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday June 14, 2026. © Demetrius Freeman, Reuters
Visitors at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons and U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a flyover as the UFC Freedom 250 arena.
Visitors at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons and U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a flyover as the UFC Freedom 250 arena on June 14, 2026. © Nathan Howard, Reuters
America's Michael Chandler waits in the Grand Foyer of the White House before his lightweight bout against Brazil's Mauricio Ruffy.
America's Michael Chandler waits in the Grand Foyer of the White House before his lightweight bout against Brazil's Mauricio Ruffy on June 14, 2026. © Saul Loeb, Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with UFC CEO Dana White for UFC Freedom 250.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with UFC CEO Dana White for UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
Fans watch the featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia on the big screen at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse.
Fans watch the featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia on the big screen at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse on June 14, 2026. © Kevin Dietsch, Reuters
Diego Lopes (Brazil) and Steve Garcia (USA) fight during their featherweight bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Diego Lopes (Brazil) and Steve Garcia (USA) fight during their featherweight bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
Diego Lopes (Brazil) and Steve Garcia (USA) fight during their featherweight bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Diego Lopes (Brazil) and Steve Garcia (USA) fight during their featherweight bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
Members of the U.S. military attend UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Members of the U.S. military attend UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
Diego Lopes walks out of the White House for a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC Freedom 250.
Diego Lopes walks out of the White House for a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026. © Al Drago, Reuters
Diego Lopes (Brazil) sits on the octagon, for his featherweight bout with Steve Garcia (U.S.), at UFC Freedom 250.
Diego Lopes (Brazil) sits on the octagon, for his featherweight bout with Steve Garcia (U.S.), at UFC Freedom 250, on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the front row of the match.
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the front row of the match on June 14, 2026. © Evan Vucci, Reuters
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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