Donald Trump’s 80th birthday bash won’t be a quiet family dinner or a dignified statesman-style celebration. Instead, he’s turning the White House into an MMA cage match. Literally.
At a weekend event commemorating the U.S. Navy’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the president took the podium at Naval Station Norfolk and casually dropped his plans for a birthday party that sounds more WrestleMania than presidential.
“And on June 14th next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House on the grounds of the White House,” Trump told sailors on Sunday. No mention that June 14th is, not coincidentally, his 80th birthday.
He first teased the idea back in July, but this latest confirmation marks yet another moment where spectacle overtakes substance in Trump World.
According to Trump, the bout will be part of a broader celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. So while the rest of the country may mark the occasion with history lessons, reenactments, and fireworks, Trump plans to stain the South Lawn with blood, sweat, and maybe a dislocated shoulder or two.
Conor McGregor — yes, that Conor McGregor, the one recently found liable for sexual assault in an Irish civil court — says he’s already in.
“Done deal, signed, delivered, it ain’t a negotiation,” McGregor told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “I will compete in the White House for America’s 250th birthday.”
🚨 Conor McGregor says his fight at the White House fight is SIGNED and a DONE DEAL 👀
"Done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America's 250th birthday."
(via @seanhannity)pic.twitter.com/nCXrCgVt2A
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 2, 2025
UFC President Dana White isn’t quite ready to confirm it all just yet. Speaking after UFC 320 in Nevada on Saturday, White gave the usual vague but hyped-up spiel.
“In February, we’ll start looking at building the White House card, which I will right now tell you will be the greatest fight card ever assembled in the history of, at least, definitely this company,” White said.
He also tried to tamp down McGregor’s enthusiasm. “I made it clear Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card,” he said. “But nothing is done yet, and no fights are being negotiated with the White House.”
McGregor hasn’t fought since a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, but apparently a three-year losing streak isn’t disqualifying when the arena is the freaking White House lawn.
Adding to the absurdity, White admitted the UFC will have to shell out $700,000 just to repair the South Lawn afterward — because nothing screams fiscal responsibility like turning a national landmark into a beatdown pit.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Trump has tried to steal the national spotlight with over-the-top theatrics wrapped in red, white, and blue. His last birthday bash — a military parade meant to coincide with the U.S. Army’s 250th — was a logistical headache and political embarrassment.
That parade, which involved 6,000 soldiers and 84 military vehicles rolling through D.C., cost upwards of $45 million, much of it going toward road repairs because — shocker — the capital’s streets weren’t built for tanks.
Publicly, Trump called it a “tremendous success.” Privately, he was fuming, according to biographer Michael Wolff.
“He kind of reamed out Hegseth for this,” Wolff said on The Daily Beast podcast, referring to then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “He wanted a ‘menacing’ show of force but got a ‘festive’ and jovial parade instead.”
Trump feels burned by past attempts at high-profile celebrations. Now, with his 80th looming, he’s trying again — this time with fists, cages, and spectacle.
The White House has not commented yet, and probably won’t until they’re forced to explain how and why taxpayer money is being spent to turn a historic lawn into an octagon.
One thing’s for sure: the only thing trashier than the plan is the fact that it’ll probably happen.
