White House Hosts UFC Freedom 250, Drawing Business Leaders and Celebrities
The White House recently hosted a UFC event, branded "UFC Freedom 250," on its South Lawn. The seven-bout event coincided with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and was attended by a mix of Trump family members, cabinet officials, Republican leaders, tech executives, business leaders, and celebrities. Notable attendees included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, UFC commentator Joe Rogan, TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel, and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.
The White House hosted "UFC Freedom 250," a seven-bout Ultimate Fighting Championship event, on its South Lawn on Sunday. The event coincided with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
Attendees included President Trump, members of the Trump family, and cabinet officials. Republican leaders such as JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Mike Johnson, and John Thune were also present.
Among the tech and business executives in attendance was Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was observed speaking with President Trump during a break. Meta previously donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund in late 2024, and Zuckerberg has attended prior White House events with tech leaders.
UFC interviewer and color commentator Joe Rogan was part of the broadcast, interviewing Justin Gaethje after a lightweight matchup. Rogan has previously interviewed President Trump on his podcast and, despite past criticisms of outdoor UFC fights, later praised the event.
Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings, which owns both WWE and UFC, attended the event, maintaining a longstanding professional relationship with President Trump. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, also attended; his company, which holds exclusive streaming rights to UFC, received clearance from the US Department of Justice to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery days before the White House event.
New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan was spotted at the event, less than 24 hours after his team secured its first NBA championship since 1973. Comedian Shane Gillis, known for his impression of the president, was also present, having previously met Trump at Super Bowl LIX.
Singer Zac Brown performed the national anthem at the event, stating his participation was due to "patriotism, not politics." Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, was in attendance. Crypto.com, which co-sponsored the fight, is engaged in a "strategic partnership" with Trump Media.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe also attended, known for a 2024 performance at a Trump rally during which he made controversial remarks.
(Source: Business Insider)
