Dozens of protesters gathered outside the White House on Sunday as Donald Trump hosted a UFC cage-fighting event on the South Lawn, marking the first private, for-profit sporting event ever held on White House grounds. The demonstration, organized by the progressive group Third Act Virginia, saw signs and chants condemning the event as corrupt and inappropriate for the nation's most iconic public space.
The fights, part of a celebration ahead of the US's 250th anniversary, coincided with Trump's 80th birthday. Protesters argued the event commercialised federal park lands and highlighted potential conflicts of interest, noting Trump's significant stock in TKO, the UFC's parent company. A federal lawsuit seeking to block the event was rejected two days prior.
Thousands of fight fans streamed past the demonstrators, with some chanting 'USA! USA!' and 'UFC! UFC!' in response to protesters' cries of 'Whose house? Our house!' and 'Whose lawn? Our lawn!'. The afternoon rally was one of several across Washington DC and the country, with participants citing concerns over violence, corruption, and the misuse of public land.
Fighters emerged from the Oval Office to a 92-foot-tall steel cage called 'the Claw' on the South Lawn, while VIP guests paid up to $1.5 million for access. Protesters, including those from Code Pink and other groups, marched from the Wilson Building to voice opposition, with some calling the event a 'fascist, money-grabbing opportunity'.
