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Trump to Host Historic UFC Fight on White House Lawn as Part of U.S. Semiquincentennial Celebrations
President Donald Trump is moving ahead with plans to stage a mixed martial arts spectacle on the South Lawn of the White House next year, with UFC chief executive Dana White confirming the unprecedented event as part of America’s 250th independence anniversary celebrations.
Trump first floated the idea in July, saying he wanted more than 20,000 spectators to witness a live UFC fight at the presidential residence during the semiquincentennial festivities. With July’s calendar already filled with commemorative events, U.S. media reports now indicate the fight will take place in June.
The plan gained momentum in late August when White, a longtime ally of Trump, visited the White House. Following the meeting, he announced in a live Instagram video that the fight had been agreed. “We got it done today,” White declared, confirming the South Lawn would host the bout.
According to reports, the spectacle will extend beyond the White House grounds. Fighter weigh-ins are expected to take place at the Lincoln Memorial, while the main event will include elaborate entertainment features such as fireworks, laser displays, and the iconic UFC octagon cage.
“This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told the Wall Street Journal.
The president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, who is said to be a fan of the sport, is reportedly playing a role in organising the event.
Trump’s ties to White and the UFC stretch back decades. In the early 2000s, the future president hosted MMA events at one of his Atlantic City hotels at a time when the sport was still struggling for mainstream recognition. White has since credited Trump with helping legitimise UFC, which has grown into one of the world’s most lucrative sporting franchises.
Now 79, Trump continues to show an enthusiasm for sports. Alongside his regular golf outings, he is a visible presence at major events, including recent appearances at the Super Bowl and the U.S. Open men’s tennis final.
While hosting a UFC fight at the White House would be unprecedented, sporting activity on the presidential grounds is not without precedent. Warren G. Harding welcomed tennis matches in the 1920s, George W. Bush staged teeball games, and Barack Obama frequently held basketball sessions on the White House courts.
If confirmed, the UFC showdown would mark the first combat sports event at the White House, blending the pageantry of America’s semiquincentennial with the spectacle of one of its fastest-growing sports.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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