Get ready for the most unusual birthday bash in presidential history. President Trump’s UFC extravaganza on the South Lawn is shaping up to be a Hollywood-meets-Octagon spectacle, with a celebrity invite list that reads like a casting call for an all-star action flick.
A roster of A-list names has been invited to attend UFC Freedom 250, the six-bout card scheduled for June 14, 2026, at the White House. The event will mark America’s 250th birthday — and, conveniently, the president’s 80th. UFC CEO Dana White has personally extended invitations to former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and actor-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, according to a new report.
Movie stars Adam Sandler, Jared Leto and Jason Statham have also been offered tickets, alongside film director Guy Ritchie and “Access Hollywood” host Mario Lopez. The attendance of those invited celebrities has not been confirmed, though Lopez’s rep has already said he won’t make it due to “work commitments.”
A Guest List Built for Fight Night
The invitees aren’t random Hollywood picks — they’re genuine fight fans, many with real ties to mixed martial arts. Brady purchased a stake in TKO Group Holdings, the UFC’s parent company, and has rattled off his favorite fighters in interviews. Leto has shared posts about upcoming bouts. Ritchie is a devoted martial arts practitioner, and Sandler has worked with White to develop a UFC comedy.
Statham, meanwhile, has been singing the sport’s praises for over a decade. In 2011, he told an interviewer he had “always been a fan,” adding: “They’re the ultimate athlete. They just have so much concentration and mental strength. They overcome their fears and they’re the true gladiators.”
Even Lopez — who can’t make the date — fits the theme. He famously played a high school wrestler on “Saved by the Bell.”
Those seven names came from White’s personal shortlist. The White House and sports firm TKO are expected to keep adding to the guest list in the coming weeks.
Inside the South Lawn Arena
The temporary venue going up on the South Lawn will hold about 4,300 seats around the octagon, with at least 1,200 reserved for active duty service members. All seats are expected to be invite-only, and it’s still unclear who will fill the remaining 3,100 spots — though celebrities, politicians and other notables are expected to be prominently featured.
For everyone else, there’s the Ellipse, the sprawling park next to the White House, which will host a viewing party for up to 85,000 fans. Members of the public can apply for free tickets to watch from there.
“We’re gonna give away about 85,000 tickets [to the Ellipse],” White said earlier this month. “There’s a process, you have to register for tickets, and they’re free…Literally, you’ll be able to see the fight[s] from the Ellipse, but we have screens, we’ve got stages, we’ve got music.”
Construction kicked off this week, with cranes assembling massive lighting rigs nearly as tall as the executive mansion. Plans also include an overhead “claw” structure looming over the octagon. Earlier this month, Trump showed off a nighttime rendering of the cage surrounded by stars and stripes decor. The weigh-in is set to be conducted at the Lincoln Memorial.
The White House declined to comment when asked about the celebrity invitations.
The Fight Card
UFC Freedom 250 is no exhibition. The card features two title fights: lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on Justin Gaethje, while Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira meet for the interim heavyweight title.
The rest of the lineup, according to officials, includes Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis, Michael Chandler vs. Mauricio Ruffy, Kyle Daukaus vs. Bo Nickal, and Steve Garcia vs. Diego Lopes.
A Presidential Fight Fan
Trump’s affinity for UFC is well-documented. In 2019, he made history as the first sitting president to attend a UFC event, and last month he turned up at UFC 327 in Miami alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He’s also longtime friends with White.
The president has been promoting the South Lawn showdown with characteristic enthusiasm. “This will be the greatest show on earth,” Trump told reporters. “These are real warriors. When we talk about warriors, these are warriors.”
Not everyone is sold on the spectacle. Democrats have criticized the event as a tone-deaf birthday party, and the broader Freedom 250 programming — which also includes a concert series and an IndyCar race through Washington — has drawn scrutiny.
Still, with two title bouts, an 85,000-strong viewing party and a guest list that could rival the Oscars, June 14 is shaping up to be a night unlike any other on the South Lawn. Whether Brady, The Rock and the rest actually show up remains the million-dollar question.