The White House lawn, a symbol of American democracy, became the stage for a historic yet controversial event on Sunday afternoon. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in collaboration with the Trump administration, hosted a series of mixed martial arts fights, marketed as a celebration of the country’s fighting spirit ahead of its 250th anniversary. However, the event, held on Donald Trump‘s 80th birthday, has ignited a firestorm of protests and legal challenges.
Thousands of UFC fans and Trump supporters flocked to the event, while protesters lined the entrance gates to the Ellipse, the park south of the White House. Holding signs and chanting slogans, they expressed their opposition to what they saw as a misuse of federal park lands and a celebration of violence on government property. The protesters’ concerns were multifaceted, ranging from the event’s commercial nature to its inherent violence and the perceived conflict of interest involving Trump’s stock holdings in TKO, the UFC’s parent company.
The Protesters’ Stance: A Call for Democracy
Organized under the banner “The Real Fight Is for Democracy,” the protesters gathered to voice their discontent with the event. Susan Douglas, an organizer with Third Act Virginia, a progressive pro-democracy grassroots organization, was one of the plaintiffs in an emergency federal lawsuit seeking to block the UFC event. Despite the lawsuit’s rejection, Douglas remained steadfast in her opposition, stating, “This reeks of corruption – way too much corruption.”
The protesters employed creative forms of dissent, including a large puppet cage featuring oversized figures of Trump and his cabinet members. This piece of street theater, designed to symbolize the protesters’ belief that Trump and his allies belong behind bars, drew mixed reactions from tourists and UFC spectators. As protesters chanted “Whose house? Our house!” and “Whose lawn? Our lawn!”Trump fans countered with chants of “USA! USA! UFC! UFC!”.
The UFC’s Cryptocurrency Controversy
Adding to the controversy, the UFC announced that it would pay bonuses to fighters in a form of cryptocurrency issued by World Liberty Financial, a venture co-founded by the Trump family. The stablecoin, named “USD1,” is pegged to the US dollar and is backed by dollar reserves. This development has raised eyebrows, as it connects the Trump family’s financial interests to the high-profile UFC competition being promoted on government property.
World Liberty Financial, listed as an “official sponsor” of UFC Freedom 250, has faced its share of controversies. The company is currently in litigation with Justin Sun, a crypto tycoon who alleged that World Liberty improperly froze his tokens. Despite these controversies, the company remains a significant player in the cryptocurrency market, with Trump Sr. listed as its “Chief Crypto Advocate.”
Counter-Programming: A Call for Peace and Caring
As the UFC event unfolded, a different kind of action was taking place a few blocks away. Roughly 100 people gathered at the Wilson Building on Pennsylvania Avenue, brought together by various anti-war and feminist organizations. They moved toward the fight area to host a community meal and programming under the banner “They Fight, We Feed.”
Olivia DiNucci, an anti-militarism organizer with CodePink, emphasized the deeper significance of the UFC fight. She stated, “We are calling out how this is already a very militarized city, and now we have people fighting each other on the South Lawn and trying to elicit fear and violence, like they do all over the world.” The group raised funds for local organizations and laid out a community meal, drawing a deliberate contrast with the UFC event.
DiNucci highlighted the connection between military spending and hunger, stating, “We are about to sign a $1.5tn Pentagon budget – the highest Pentagon budget we’ve ever had, the highest DHS budget we’ve ever had – and the biggest cuts to social safety nets.” She emphasized the need for a world of peace and caring, where resources are allocated to address poverty and hunger rather than glorifying violence.
As the main card got underway on the South Lawn, the Committee for the First Amendment began “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment,” featuring renowned artists such as Bette Midler, Patti Smith, and Jane Fonda. The concert, streamed live to over 500 watch parties, served as a counter-programming event, emphasizing the importance of defending rights and building a future rooted in people power.
