Trump's White House UFC fight leaves Lawn star list thin
Dana White said he invited seven celebrities to the UFC cage fight on the White House South Lawn next week, but several of the biggest names on that list are expected to stay away. About 4,000 people are set to gather around the octagon on the lawn on June 14, an event tied to President Donald Trump’s birthday.
The guest list has become part of the story because the White House has fielded requests from donors, lobbyists and members of Congress for seats. Trump has 1,000 tickets to give out, while White White and Ari Emanuel have 200 tickets apiece.
Dana White's invite list
White said he invited Adam Sandler, Guy Ritchie, Tom Brady, Jared Leto, Jason Statham, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mario Lopez to the bout. A source close to Johnson said he will not be attending, and representatives for Sandler, Leto and Lopez said they won’t be there either.
The result leaves the White House event with a celebrity roster that looks thinner than the invite list White described. The UFC chief has said the bout is being staged as a 250th event, with the crowd assembled on the South Lawn around an octagon erected for the night.
Trump's seat allocation
Trump has been handpicking allies to attend, and one source close to the president said of the tickets, “Just call Trump.” A top Trump administration official also called the event “It’s the hottest ticket in town” while discussing the demand for seats.
One administration official said, “I’m hoping for a call-up,” and added, “I’ve certainly expressed interest.” Those comments show how tightly access to the event is being managed as donors and political allies compete for a limited pool of seats.
June 14 on the South Lawn
The event will take place on June 14 and is being held in celebration of Trump’s birthday. It is also part of the buildup to the United States’ 250th birthday celebration, which gives the South Lawn fight a place in the broader semiquincentennial schedule.
For attendees, the practical picture is simple: the White House is controlling the list, the UFC has only so many seats to distribute, and the celebrity turnout White hoped for is not materializing. The event is still set to proceed with about 4,000 people around the cage on the lawn.
