I Went To UFC Freedom 250

If you would have told me when I moved to Washington D.C. in 2024 that eventually I’d be reporting on a cage fight on the White House lawn…

Last night, Trump hosted the UFC at the people’s house, and it was as ratchet as you’re probably imagining. I arrived at 5PM, well before the start of the fight. Already, thousands of UFC fans roamed the closed streets surrounding the White House, sporting a mix of UFC, MAGA, and USA apparel and reeking of BO.

While the tab for the fight itself was covered by the UFC and its subsidiaries, security was managed by a mix of law enforcement agencies and the National Guard. Hundreds of Metropolitan Police were stationed among the metal barricades that corralled attendees to security checkpoints managed by Secret Service. In the 90 degree heat and sun, most of the officers grouped in what little shade they could, beneath trees along Constitution Avenue. I asked one if they were at least getting paid overtime. He confirmed they were not.

Federal law enforcement was present too. I passed a group of half a dozen HSI agents, leaning against vehicles parked in the grass that had duct tape over the license plates.

Its near impossible to calculate an exact cost for all the added local and federal law enforcement, but rest assured, these are your tax dollars at work.

The fight itself was what you’d expect — at one point fighter Josh Hokit yelled to the crowd, “Michelle Obama is a man!” to thunderous applause. Despite the event being sponsored by Bud Light (previously cancelled by conservatives for a collaboration with Dylan Mulvaney), transphobia and conspiracy was alive and well.

UFC Freedom 250 was pitched as an event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary — yet was scheduled two weeks prior, on Trump’s birthday. While tickets to the UFC Fan Fest outside the octagon were available for free via lottery, the 4,500 seat arena welcomed only VIPs and special guests, with packages priced at $1.5 million. Don’t worry, 1,200 or so seats were reserved for active military — so long as they met height and weight requirements and could pay for their own travel. No fatties allowed. At a time when most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to afford gas and groceries, its giving “let them eat cake.”

This event was not for the American people. The evidence for this isn’t in the circus on the White House lawn itself, but on how the event fucked over D.C. residents. At 8:00PM, I made my way down Constitution towards the FLARE encampment at General Meade’s statue. The entire road was shut down, and once a block away from the White House, it was a ghost town. The evening had finally cooled off after a weekend of extreme heat. Usually, the National Mall would be filled with people on evening runs, walking their dogs, or just taking some time to get outside without being baked alive. Instead, the city was deserted.

That evening at DCA National Airport, flights were grounded for hours — with no warning given to air traffic controllers, airport staff, or travelers despite weeks of preparation for UFC Freedom 250. “One of the most frustrating things I’ve experienced in 20 years of aviation,” said one pilot, while stranded with a fully boarded flight on the tarmac for over 2 hours. Similar reports of delays were made on social media by those traveling out of Dulles International Airport.

At 11:30PM, a B1-B Lancer flew overhead, the large military aircraft waking many across the city.

This was, unfortunately, not the end of the noise Sunday evening. At 1:00am on a work night, this is what D.C. residents had to listen to;

All of this for a vanity birthday party for President Trump, with little regard for anyone else. But that sums up Trump’s presidency. Last week, he similarly screwed over NYC residents when attending game 3 of the NBA finals. The watch party outside Madison Square Garden was cancelled, security perimeters prevented Knicks fans from watching the game at local bars (and lost those businesses thousands in revenue), and increased security left ticket holders trapped in hours long lines. All so Trump could fall asleep at the game.

None of this is presidential. You can’t celebrate America’s 250th anniversary without the people of America — yet Trump continues to commandeer the occasion for his own ego. This morning, he announced on Truth Social, “On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA,’”

That’s right — a 4th of July Trump rally on the National Mall. Worse, unlike UFC Freedom 250, the America 250 events are all paid for with public, taxpayer money. We’re struggling to afford rent and groceries, but our taxes are being spent on a Trump Rally. Stay tuned, because I’ll be there reporting on it.

Want to fight back? If you’re local to D.C. or will be here the week of the 4th, a week of counter actions are planned that you can be a part of!

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