Guests have started arriving for President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House, but a pair of unexpected environmental threats are looming.
Sunday’s event, which falls on Trump’s 80th birthday, could be disrupted by severe thunderstorms and swarms of insects. The region could be hit with hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning until 11 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service.
In response to reports of poor weather, the White House Rapid Response team declared the celebrations would continue “rain or shine.”
More than 4,000 people will gather in a massive arena on the White House’s South Lawn to watch the event. Another 120,000 spectators are expected to attend a watch party at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park just south of the White House.
All 14 fighters successfully made weight Saturday during ceremonial weigh-ins at the Ellipse. Following their official morning weigh-ins, the athletes took the stage in front of thousands of fans.
Earlier this week, the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the UFC event, which it called “deeply corrupt.” A federal judge declined to block the event in a ruling issued Friday.
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Severe thunderstorm watch issued for DC area
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the District of Columbia, parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, in effect until 11 p.m. EDT tonight.
Eric Trump shares view of White House UFC arena from the roof
With just hours to go before the event, Eric Trump took to X to share an exclusive, bird’s-eye view of the massive setup from the top of the White House.
Panning his camera across the South Lawn, his video captures the full scale of the towering UFC arena built for tonight’s matches.
“Alright guys, UFC starts in a couple hours, here’s what it looks like from the top of the White House,” he says in the clip. He also points out the construction site on the grounds, calling attention to the “cranes over there for construction of the brand new ballroom.”
Guests arrive at White House in full patriotic and UFC gear for fight night
The crowd has begun arriving at the White House for tonight’s UFC Freedom 250 card. Guests waiting in line to get onto the grounds are sporting everything from American flag overalls and MAGA gear to custom combat shirts blending UFC logos with America 250 themes.
As the anticipation builds outside the massive “Claw” arena, enthusiastic chants of “USA! USA!” are breaking out among attendees.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. targets ‘Red 40’ in UFC post
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photo of himself on X physically punching a UFC-style fighter digitally labeled “Red 40.”
Satellite images reveal massive UFC cage structure on the White House lawn
A newly released satellite image from Vantor Technologies captures the sheer scale of the “UFC Freedom 250” arena, code-named “The Claw,” sprawling across the South Lawn of the White House. The 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel superstructure completely dominates the grounds, ready to host tonight’s historic card as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations — and the president's 80th birthday.
The high-resolution overhead view also vividly captures the wider, ongoing transformation of the executive mansion. The imagery clearly shows the intense demolition site where the East Wing once stood, now completely cleared to make way for the construction of Trump’s massive new $400 million White House ballroom.
Speaker Mike Johnson sends public birthday wishes to Donald Trump
House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the wave of high-profile political figures offering public birthday greetings to Donald Trump on Sunday morning.
In a post on X, Johnson thanked the president for his leadership and “unwavering commitment to the American people” as Trump celebrates his 80th birthday.
Gavin Newsom mocks Trump campaign’s furious reaction to White House fight weather reports
After media reports highlighted that Sunday’s outdoor fight could be disrupted by the weather, Trump’s official campaign account, Rapid Response 47, fired back angrily on X, writing: “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 bullshit clickbait headline. Rain or shine, we’re celebrating our great country no matter what. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to jump on the campaign’s aggressive outburst: “Imagine being triggered by THE WEATHER,” Newsom wrote on X Sunday afternoon. “True snowflake behavior!”
