President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration, a UFC event being held at the White House, has been delayed due to intense weather warnings.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. for the Washington D.C. area. Forecasters have warned of the risk of hail, wind gusts of up to 70mph, and lightning.
The fights, which were scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., are now expected to begin an hour later at 9 p.m.
Pool reporters noted that as of 7.43 p.m., 17 minutes before the original start time, they had not yet received formal guidance on the delay or been called to enter “The Claw,” the giant metal structure erected outside the White House where the fights will take place.
“It seems likely we will start late, though the exact delay remains unclear. President Trump was scheduled to join the event at 7:45,” the New York Post’s Steven Nelson reported.
NBC reported that after an hour-long delay, the pre-fight broadcast on Paramount+ began at 8 p.m with the fights expected to start at 9 p.m. A notice in the corner of the screen reads “RAIN DELAY.”
In response to reports from The Weather Channel of expected thunderstorms earlier in the day, the official @RapidResponse47 account posted, “This event is about celebrating America’s unmatched greatness after 250 years—which apparently doesn’t sit well with the friendless loser who wrote this bulls--t clickbait headline.”
“Rain or shine, we’re celebrating our great country no matter what. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The president eventually emerged from the White House alongside UFC CEO Dana White just before 8.30 p.m., wearing what NBC’s Andrew Greif described as a “stoic expression.”
The Zac Brown Band then performed the national anthem accompanied by the Armed Forces Joint Chorus as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds flew overhead. After initially watching the display from the Blue Room Balcony, Trump and White made their way into The Claw.
Sports reporter Heidi Androl gave an update from the event’s command center during the broadcast, explaining that event organizers were working closely with the National Weather Service to track the storms.
Androl clarified that organizers were not concerned about rain, but about high winds and lightning. “I am told that if that happens, a shelter-in-place will be initiated,” Androl reported, adding that those on the South Lawn will shelter in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where the fighters’ locker rooms are located, if such an order is issued.
Over 4000 attendees gathered at the arena on the White House South Lawn for the seven-fight card. Guests include many members of Trump’s family, while many celebrities who reportedly received invitations declined to attend.
Many members of Trump’s inner circle were in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
After the delay, the fighting commenced shortly after 9 p.m., with the first fight of the night taking place between Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes and American Steve Garcia. Despite riding high on a seven-fight winning streak, Garcia was knocked out by Lopes in two rounds.
