Donald Trump’s high-profile UFC card at the White House is running into an unexpected problem before the opening bell even rings: insects.
Specialists say Sunday’s much-hyped UFC Freedom 250 could be plagued by an “extreme” surge in bugs, with intense heat, heavy humidity and the possibility of thunderstorms creating prime conditions for mosquitoes, gnats and other pests across the South Lawn.
The alert comes as crews complete work on a large open-air arena built on the White House grounds for what is expected to be one of the most unusual sporting spectacles ever hosted at the presidential residence.
Weather projections indicate temperatures in Washington, DC, could reach about 91F on Sunday, while thunderstorms remain a possibility later in the day.
Although rain and lightning may complicate the event, insect experts warn that the capital’s well-known summer bug swarms could prove just as disruptive.
AccuWeather has issued an “extreme” bug alert for the day of the fight night, pointing to conditions likely to boost insect activity and increase the presence of mosquitoes, stink bugs, roaches and termites.
The prospect of thousands of insects being drawn toward the powerful floodlights surrounding the Octagon is likely to concern UFC president Dana White, who has repeatedly expressed his dislike of outdoor fight cards because of the elements that organizers cannot control.
White recently recalled being stunned by the volume of insects he encountered while attending an event at the White House earlier this year.
Weather forecasts warn of an ‘extreme’ insect risk in Washington, D.C., on the day of Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House
UFC president Dana White has long expressed concerns about staging major fight cards outdoors because of uncontrollable weather conditions. He is pictured alongside Kai Trump
The structure, known as ‘The Claw,’ for the upcoming UFC fight that President Donald Trump will host as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States, is seen on the South Lawn
‘He invited me to dinner there,’ White said of Trump during an interview with Boardroom Talks. ‘The amount of gnats that are flying around, I’m like, ‘Holy s***!”
The UFC boss nevertheless agreed to move forward with the event, a reflection of his long-standing friendship with Trump.
Organizers have prepared a series of backup plans to deal with weather-related disruptions, including measures aimed at limiting the impact of heat, rain, wind and insects.
Industrial fans, protective coverings and other production adjustments are among the tools available should conditions deteriorate.
The festivities surrounding the event have already transformed several iconic Washington landmarks into staging grounds for what may become one of the most unusual combinations of politics and professional sports ever seen in the nation’s capital.
Activities began Friday with a UFC press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, the historic site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in 1963.
Saturday’s ceremonial weigh-ins are scheduled for the Ellipse, the park adjacent to the White House that became internationally known after Trump’s January 6, 2021 ‘Stop the Steal’ rally.
The main attraction arrives Sunday night, when fighters including Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane are expected to compete inside an Octagon erected beneath a towering steel lighting structure known in production circles as ‘The Claw.’
Large outdoor lighting structures can attract significant numbers of flying insects after dark
President Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn as thousands gather for the unprecedented sporting spectacle
Trump, who turns 80 this weekend, is expected to attend as thousands gather on the South Lawn for the event.
The president also announced Friday that the Department of War plans to unveil a new recruitment advertisement during the broadcast.
‘This Sunday Night, during the historic Freedom 250 UFC Fight at the White House, The Department of War will debut their first TV Ad, entitled ‘Peace Through Strength’,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
‘The Warrior Ethos is BACK at the War Department, and we call on our greatest young Americans to join our Great Fighting (when necessary!)’
The event has generated controversy beyond concerns about insects and weather.
UFC Freedom 250 fighters Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira, Justin Gaethje, and Ciryl Gane are set to take part. They are pictured at the White House on May 6
Alex Pereira of Brazil and Ciryl Gane of France face off during the UFC Freedom 250 Press Conference at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday night
UFC CEO Dana White separates lightweight fighters Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje as they face off during a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Friday
UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje poses during the UFC Freedom 250 official weigh-ins in Washington, D.C.
Fighters scheduled to take part in the weekend’s events include Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane
A lawsuit filed by two Washington-area residents alongside watchdog organization Public Integrity Project sought to stop the fights from taking place on federal property. The plaintiffs argued that government facilities were being used to benefit private commercial interests connected to both Trump and White.
Court documents described the event as an ‘orgy of corruption.’
A judge ultimately declined to halt the proceedings, ruling Friday that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate sufficient harm to justify blocking the event.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and UFC for comment.
