The upcoming UFC event hosted at the White House on June 14 has prompted France to reschedule this year’s Group of Seven (G7) summit. The summit was first announced to take place from June 14 through 16 in the picturesque town of Evian-les-Bains. In order to not conflict with the enormously popular mixed martial arts card, it’s been moved one day later.
Over the course of his second term, Donald Trump has fully embraced the UFC. He’s an ubiquitous presence cageside at events nowadays, and he’s learned to use that platform to craft impactful public moments. The UFC has meticulously arranged for the event to unfold on the South Lawn of the White House, showcasing a blend of politics, sport, and spectacle.
Dana White, the president and CEO of the UFC, said that it was all systems go for the event. That’s it—all logistical elements are officially in place! Look for as many as 5,000 of the public to be on hand across the White House fence. The Ellipse park — located just south of the property — will provide some additional viewing space and boost capacity to over 85,000 fans.
“We literally just got done going through all of the logistics of how to set it up, how many people we can have,”
- Dana White
These fighters will all proudly march from the White House to the octagon. This journey, called La Relocalisation, both underscores the event’s enormous scale and profound symbolic significance. This impressive neo-energizing play is a glimpse of Trump’s tactical focus on young men of all kinds. This same demographic was vital to his political resurrection.
This time around, the White House event was foreshadowed by Trump himself last October. Since that time, he’s been relentlessly pursuing and engaging the Administration’s top officials. He asked White to have him make splashy, viral appearances on the most popular podcasts and digital shows that were connected to the UFC.
Trump’s relationship with the UFC dates back to 2001. He extended that promise to host their fights by opening his Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This advance backing delivered the UFC with a critical platform and starting point within managed markets. Now, the UFC is playing an even more important role in boosting Trump’s political fortunes. More importantly, it allows him to engage with an audience that deep down believes in his brand.
As registration for the crowd is still ongoing, White provided more details about what exactly attendees can expect from the day-long planning spectacle.
“It’s looking like we’ll have 5,000 people live on the White House lawn. It’ll be on the South Lawn.”
- Dana White
France is reportedly planning to postpone the G7 summit. This decision marks the latest example of how much politics and sports have intertwined during the Trump administration. This week, Trump’s UFC event is taking national attention for all the wrong reasons. Since it falls on his 80th birthday and US Flag Day, this year’s event is especially meaningful.