US Politics
From Tom Brady to the Rock: See the star-studded invite list for the UFC event on the White House lawn
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A roster of A-list celebrities has been invited to attend President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House next month, according to a new report.
The six bouts, set to take place in an octagon and under towering lighting rigs on the South Lawn, will be held on June 14 in honor of America’s 250th birthday — though the date also coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday.
UFC CEO Dana White has extended invitations to former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and actor-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Time reported. Movie stars Adam Sandler, Jared Leto and Jason Statham have also been offered tickets, alongside film director Guy Ritchie and “Access Hollywood” host Mario Lopez.
Many of these individuals — whose attendance has not been confirmed — are avid aficionados of the UFC, a sport largely popular with young men. Brady has listed his favorite fighters during an interview; Leto has shared posts about upcoming bouts.
In 2011, Statham told an interviewer he has “always been a fan.” He added: “They’re the ultimate athlete. They just have so much concentration and mental strength. They overcome their fears and they’re the true gladiators.”
When reached by The Independent, the White House declined to comment. The Independent has contacted the UFC for comment.
The June 14 event, dubbed UFC Freedom 250, will feature about 4,300 seats around the octagon. At least 1,200 of them will be reserved for active duty service members, Time reported.
All seats are expected to be invite-only, though members of the public can apply for free tickets to watch the fights from the Ellipse, a sprawling park located next to the White House.
“We’re gonna give away about 85,000 tickets [to the Ellipse],” White said earlier this month. “There’s a process, you have to register for tickets, and they’re free…Literally, you’ll be able to see the fight[s] from the Ellipse, but we have screens, we’ve got stages, we’ve got music.”
Construction for the event kicked off this week, with photos showing cranes assembling massive lighting rigs that appear to be nearly as tall as the executive mansion. Earlier this month, Trump showed off a nighttime rendering of the octagon surrounded by stars and stripes decor.
“This will be the greatest show on earth,” the 79-year-old president told reporters. “These are real warriors. When we talk about warriors, these are warriors.”
White, who is friends with Trump, told Time that the White House fighting extravaganza is “not at all” intended to be political.
That hasn’t stopped Democrats from railing against the upcoming spectacle.
“Trump is building a golden ballroom and for his birthday party — arranging a UFC fight on the White House grounds — while you’re fighting to pay this month’s bills. Could he be more out of touch?” Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, wrote on X.
Trump himself has long been an avid UFC fan, frequently appearing cageside at major fights. In 2019, he made history as the first sitting president to attend an event. Last month, he attended UFC 327 in Miami alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio — while peace talks to end the Iran war collapsed in Pakistan.
While there, he joked that an athlete was too attractive to step into the ring, while also questioning his own potential as a fighter.
“You could be a model,” Trump told Brazilian fighter Paolo Costa. “You’re too good looking to be a fighter.”
Elsewhere, while watching welterweight Kevin Holland and speaking to White, the president asked: “Now if I wanted to heavy train, because I’m a very good athlete, could I beat the s*** out of him? Or would you stop me from trying?”
“I would stop you, sir,” White replied, according to Time.