The UFC's Freedom 250 card on the White House South Lawn caused a $30m loss due to high production costs and no public ticket sales, despite drawing 34m worldwide views, parent company TKO Group announced.
Michael Dell humorously offered his "Dellicopter" during a White House briefing. Meanwhile, President Trump discussed the damage caused by new Marine One helicopters to the South Lawn, leading to Lockheed Martin funding a new granite helipad.
President Donald Trump publicly praised rapper Nicki Minaj as 'so hot' and 'respected' during a White House Rose Garden event, highlighting her support for the MAGA movement. Minaj, who has visited the White House previously, shared photos from the event.
Ronda Rousey and Jake Paul have mocked the UFC and Dana White for failing to surpass their MMA record audience figures with the recent White House event. Rousey's fight on Netflix drew 9.3m US viewers, while the UFC event on Paramount+ reached 8.2m in the US and Latin America.
UFC CEO Dana White declared that the "Freedom 250" event, held at the White House, will not happen again. Despite its success in merchandise sales and subscriptions, logistical challenges, weather concerns, and high costs made it a one-time event for the company.
Recent White House events, including a UFC fighter's controversial speech and algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, highlight America's deep political divisions. Critics decry vulgarity and conspiracy theories, while supporters see authenticity and 'owning the libs.'
Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria to become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion in a historic event held at the White House on President Trump's 80th birthday. The fight, part of UFC Freedom 250, marked the first professional sporting event on White House grounds.
Eric Trump has called screenshots alleging he asked UFC commentator Daniel Cormier about rigged fights at a White House event 'fake' and 'AI-generated'. Cormier initially shared the alleged exchange but later deleted his post.
President Trump's 80th birthday celebration at the White House, featuring a UFC fight, faces threats from severe thunderstorms and insect swarms. A lawsuit against the event was rejected, but weather and environmental concerns loom over the unprecedented sports spectacle.
A commercial airline pilot reported intense White House event lighting blinded their crew during a nighttime landing at Reagan National Airport. The pilot filed safety complaints with the FAA and NASA, describing the glare as a severe visibility disruption.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig alleges the Biden administration politically targeted Gemini co-founders, the Winklevoss twins, through enforcement actions. Selig, a Trump appointee, aims to reverse perceived "lawfare" and reset the agency's approach.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig alleges the Biden administration politically targeted Gemini co-founders, the Winklevoss twins, through enforcement actions. Selig, appointed by Trump, aims to reverse perceived politicization and 'lawfare' by the agency, starting with vacating a settlement with Gemini.
The Trump administration is pivoting to domestic issues, including healthcare costs and manufacturing, ahead of the 2026 midterms. This shift follows recent foreign policy engagements and comes amid declining approval ratings.
The UFC’s planned White House event has expanded into a multimillion-dollar spectacle, with $1.5 million VIP “Partner Investment” packages offering exclusive access alongside mass public ticket giveaways. Promoted as part of America’s 250th anniversary, the card blends sport, politics, and entertainment, featuring elite fighters while highlighting the growing partnership between the UFC, Dana White, and Donald Trump.
President Trump dismissed reports of wearing a bulletproof vest, joking about the added weight. He acknowledged security considerations but expressed reluctance to appear overly protected. Trump stated he avoids dwelling on personal security threats to remain effective in his duties, following an attempted assassination at a White House event.
Trump responded to reports he may have worn a bulletproof vest during an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, joking he doesn't want to look '20 pounds heavier.' The incident involved suspect Cole Tomas Allen allegedly entering the venue armed with guns and knives, triggering chaos before Trump was evacuated safely. Trump stated he doesn't think about the possibility of another attack, saying if he did, he wouldn't be effective in his job. Allen has been charged with attempted assassination and other offenses.
