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UFC Fight Night at White House Criticized as 'Showy' and 'Out of Touch'

UFC Fight Night at White House Criticized as 'Showy' and 'Out of Touch'

From Tuổi Trẻ · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • President Donald Trump hosted an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House on June 14, coinciding with his 80th birthday.
  • The event, "UFC Freedom 250," featured 14 UFC fighters and was attended by over 4,000 spectators, including high-ranking officials.
  • Critics called the event a "showy display" that diminished the White House's stature and criticized its commercialization and timing amid economic struggles for Americans.

President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday on June 14 by hosting an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, dubbed "UFC Freedom 250," on the White House lawn. The unprecedented event featured 14 UFC fighters competing in a steel cage, known as "The Claw," within the White House grounds, drawing an audience of over 4,000 spectators.

Đây là một sự kiện độc nhất vô nhị, một sự kiện tuyệt vời. Tôi rất thích nó... Sự kiện này được tổ chức để kỷ niệm 250 năm ngày thành lập nước Mỹ. Nó không mang bất kỳ mục đích chính trị nào.Tôi tin rằng nếu bạn là một người Mỹ, bất kể quan điểm chính trị của bạn như thế nào, thì tối nay vẫn là một đêm đáng để tự hào

— Chủ tịch UFC Dana WhiteUFC President Dana White described the event.

High-profile guests in attendance included Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. UFC President Dana White, a close friend of Trump, described the event as "one of a kind" and "fantastic," stating it was organized to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding and had no political purpose. He expressed belief that it was "a night to be proud of" for all Americans, regardless of their political views.

Public relations consultant Michael Ceraso suggested that Democratic candidates could learn from Trump's approach, advocating for boldness in pursuing personal passions. Ceraso observed that Trump's method of doing "whatever makes him feel entertained" also serves to "bring people together."

Đây là một sự kiện độc nhất vô nhị, một sự kiện tuyệt vời. Tôi rất thích nó... Sự kiện này được tổ chức để kỷ niệm 250 năm ngày thành lập nước Mỹ. Nó không mang bất kỳ mục đích chính trị nào.Tôi tin rằng nếu bạn là một người Mỹ, bất kể quan điểm chính trị của bạn như thế nào, thì tối nay vẫn là một đêm đáng để tự hào

— Chủ tịch UFC Dana WhiteUFC President Dana White described the event.

However, the event faced significant criticism. Some commentators labeled it a "showy display" that "diminished" the White House's prestige, according to AFP. The commercial aspect of the event also drew fire, with brand and corporate logos prominently displayed, including those of companies partially owned by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr. Furthermore, critics condemned the large-scale event's timing, arguing it was out of touch with the economic hardships faced by many Americans, particularly in the context of economic consequences stemming from the war with Iran. California Senator Adam Schiff questioned the event's extravagance, asking on social media, "While you are struggling to pay this month's bills, Mr. Trump is arranging a UFC event on the White House grounds. Could he be any more out of touch?"

Trong khi các bạn phải vật lộn để trả những hóa đơn của tháng này, thì ông Trump lại sắp xếp tổ chức một sự kiện UFC ngay tại khuôn viên Nhà Trắng. Liệu ông ấy có thể xa rời thực tế hơn vậy nữa không?

— Thượng nghị sĩ Adam SchiffSenator Adam Schiff criticized the event's timing and extravagance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuổi Trẻ in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.