President Trump hosted a cage match at the White House on Sunday, turning the historic South Lawn into a sporting arena where fighters pummeled each other, surrounded by paid advertisements and thousands of fans.
The unprecedented event used some of the most iconic symbols of American power—the U.S. military, the White House and the Lincoln Memorial—to promote the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a company that stands to profit from the fight’s far-reaching exposure.
Critics decried the event as gruesome and unbecoming. But the crowd—a mix of military service members, administration officials and Trump allies—reveled in the unabashed masculinity of the scene, cheering on fighters as they bloodied each other’s faces and invoking patriotic chants.
Taken together, the spectacle symbolized the style of politics Trump has brought to Washington, breaking norms and snubbing elite sensibilities. After delivering a flurry of strikes that lead to a knockout, middleweight fighter Bo Nickal credited Trump for having “the balls” to put on the show. Another fighter, Diego Lopes , leapt to the top of the cage after a win, facing the White House with arms spread wide, the audience erupting.
Some winced later in the night when heavyweight Josh Hokit made a crass remark in a post-fight interview with podcaster Joe Rogan , a longtime UFC announcer. “Lastly, Michelle Obama is a man,” Hokit said, referring to the former first lady. “Am I right, America?” After winning his fight, Hokit, wearing an American-flag bandana and sunglasses, presented Trump with his gold-chain necklace.
The fights took place in an octagon-shaped ring surrounded by a metal cage. Towering overhead was a 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel arch called “the claw.” Trump had a front-row seat for the action, sitting next to first lady Melania Trump and UFC Chief Executive Dana White , a close ally. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg , Paramount CEO David Ellison , Republican lawmakers and members of the president’s family were also in the crowd.
The UFC’s “Octagon girls” appeared in the ring between rounds wearing revealing outfits with an American-flag theme.
The White House was a main character at the event. Shortly before 8:30 p.m., cameras trained on Trump as he departed the Oval Office alongside White and walked to a White House balcony overlooking the scene. Fighters were filmed strutting through the hallways of the White House before they entered the octagon. The UFC set up a locker room for the fighters in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House.
The event took place on Trump’s 80th birthday. At the start of the fight, a man in the crowd shouted at the president, “Happy birthday!”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier described the cage match as a “gift to the American people.” But the event was streamed exclusively on Paramount+, which requires a monthly subscription. Paramount’s corporate owners have close ties to Trump.
The military was closely integrated into the programming. Country singer Zac Brown sang the national anthem as military jets flew overhead and a military color guard stood at attention. The U.S. Marine Band performed throughout the event, and the UFC telecast showed live footage of U.S. troops watching the fights from their deployments abroad.
Even by Trump’s standards, the event is a rare spectacle, merging corporate interests on one of the most famous plots of public land with exclusive access for select VIPs. Sponsor logos from Bud Light, Crypto.com, Polymarket and the mega-law firm Morgan & Morgan adorned the stage.
Officially, the event is part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Trump and White have portrayed the event as emblematic of the country’s rugged spirit. It was also a chance for Trump to project strength during a particularly challenging stretch for his presidency that includes the war in Iran and rising inflation. Trump’s approval rating is near a career low, and he has lost support among young men who make up the core UFC audience.
“This is the country of fighting. This country was built with a fight,” White said in an interview.
More than 4,000 people scored the most coveted South Lawn tickets, including members of the military.
Hot, muggy weather threatened to complicate the outdoor event, and it began nearly an hour late under a threat of thunderstorms. The UFC had a meteorologist on site to track lightning, the only thing organizers say could have stopped the action.
Sponsors will help the UFC recover at least half of the estimated $60 million cost of the event, and the publicity alone could be worth significantly more
“The beauty of the event for UFC is that this will fire up their natural constituents and should energize potential new fans. The people who hate it were probably never going to be UFC fans anyway,” said Peter Supino , a media analyst at Wolfe Research.
Thousands of attendees on Sunday, mainly men of all ages and ethnicities, waited in line to watch the match on video screens at the Ellipse, south of the White House. A large group shouted at demonstrators protesting the president. “U.S.A,” they chanted. “Trump, Trump, Trump!”
Some of Sunday’s attendees said they felt the president has restored masculinity to the forefront of American culture.
Luke Ayer , an 18-year-old from Vienna, Va., said the Epstein files hurt his enthusiasm for Trump. But he said America is culturally headed in the right direction again, straying away from a focus on issues that he said went too far after the pandemic.
“Back in Covid, I feel like people started going crazy and overreacting,“ Ayer said. “Now, I feel like we’re on the upward trajectory. For young men, like myself, we’re gonna bring the American spirit back to everyone.”
Demonstrators stood in front of the Washington Monument, with signs calling to end the war and to defy the Trump administration and its policies.
Karen Francis , a resident of Fort Washington, Md., said the event’s use of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the military was a desecration to the country.
“This is our house, not his house,” she said. “This is disgusting.”
The UFC’s White and Trump have been close since the early 2000s, when Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City hosted UFC events, a boost for an organization that was unwelcome in many venues because of the brutality of the combat.
After Trump left office in the first term following the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol by supporters trying to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, Trump turned to the UFC as he mounted a comeback, appearing at fights and winning support from the largely younger male audience. Polls show waning support for Trump among young men.
“This is the UFC’s reward. To me, that’s the story,” said Luke Thomas, a combat sports analyst and podcaster who is critical of Trump. “I get why fight fans would look at this and think it’s rad. It’s the union with the Trump administration that’s the problem for me.”
White has sought to play down the politics and said the event honors America and puts superior athleticism on display. “This isn’t everybody’s cup of tea,” he said. “I don’t love golf. I’d be shocked if there wasn’t criticism.”
Write to Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com and Terell Wright at terell.wright@wsj.com
