Zac Brown Defends White House UFC Performance as 'Patriotism, Not Politics'

Country music singer Zac Brown performed at the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14. Brown appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss his involvement, asserting that his presence was an act of patriotism.

“I’m there for the troops, man. I’m there to honor America,” Brown stated, adding, “This is patriotism, not politics for me.” He mentioned that approximately 8,000 active service members were expected to attend the match, which took place on a large stage erected in front of the presidential residence. Brown, an avid UFC fan, also noted his past as a judo competitor at the University of West Georgia.

The event included a daylong fan fest on Saturday, June 13, which Brown’s band was slated to headline following ceremonial weigh-ins. Additionally, his band was scheduled to sing the National Anthem alongside the Marine Band before the mixed martial arts battles. Brown described the opportunity as historic, marking the first sporting event to be held on the White House lawn.

The UFC event coincided with Flag Day and President Trump's 80th birthday. The decision to host a cage match octagon on the White House grounds drew a lawsuit from the Public Integrity Project in D.C. federal court. The suit alleged that the Department of Interior and the National Park Service violated federal laws by organizing a private sporting event on public property without congressional approval for the construction of the "massive fight platform," which was reportedly 22 feet high. The lawsuit also claimed a lack of proper environmental review.

Brown was the sole announced musical act for the UFC event. His participation contrasted with President Trump's earlier Great American State Fair concert series, which saw many booked artists withdraw over concerns regarding its partisan nature.

(Source: Billboard)