Thousands Gather for UFC Watch Party at White House on Trump’s 80th Birthday
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 15
Thousands Gather for UFC Watch Party at White House on Trump’s 80th Birthday
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 15
Summary
Thousands of UFC fans filled the White House Ellipse on Sunday for a watch party tied to President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, despite forecasts of a summer storm.
At least 75,000 people could fit in the viewing area, where lottery winners passed through heavy security to watch bouts on big screens near the Washington Monument.
Hundreds of D.C. police, federal agents and National Guardsmen sealed off roughly a square mile around the White House, blocking vehicle traffic along parts of the National Mall.
The gathering also drew a mix of protesters, MAGA supporters and other demonstrators, turning the birthday-linked sports event into a broader public spectacle in the capital.