First Lady Melania Trump made a striking entrance at the UFC event held for President Donald Trump’s birthday, stepping out in a sleek all-black look.
She paired a fitted black dress with matching pumps and wore a leather jacket draped over her shoulders, a styling choice that has become one of her signatures.
According to a spokesperson for the First Lady, the outfit was entirely by Dolce & Gabbana.
As she crossed the South Lawn toward the massive structure known as the “Claw” to meet the president, Melania was accompanied by a military escort.
The fight is taking place as part of celebrations tied to the president’s 80th birthday and the nation’s semiquincentennial observance. The event is being produced by Freedom 250, the organization Trump established through executive order to help shape the programming.
While Melania Trump does not typically attend UFC events with her husband, she did appear alongside him last year at the military parade commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also fell on June 14.
The UFC built a massive structure in the White House’s South Lawn to accommodate about 4,000 guests, with the President being given control over a majority of the tickets.
Members of the Trump family got some of the best seats in the house.
First Lady Melania Trump (left) arrives on the White House South Lawn for the UFC Freedom 250 fight, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday
First Lady Melania Trump struts onto the South Lawn as she arrived Sunday night to celebrate her husband’s birthday at the UFC Freedom 250 event
President Donald Trump (left) and First Lady Melania Trump attend UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn Sunday night to celebrate the President’s 80th birthday and the country’s 250th birthday
Other Trumps spotted at the fight included Donald Trump Jr, his new wife, Bettina Trump, Eric and Lara Trump with their daughter Carolina, Tiffany Trump, and her husband, Michael Boulos, Kai Trump and her brother, Donald Trump III.
Melania’s father, Viktor Knavs, attended and was positioned in the audience close to his daughter.
Vice President JD Vance, who celebrated his wedding anniversary Sunday, also got a spot near the Octagon, where the action takes place.
Usha Vance is currently pregnant with the couple’s fourth child.
Trump has long been close with UFC CEO Dana White – who introduced the President at the 2024 Republican National Convention – so he allowed him to host the first-ever professional sporting event on the White House property.
A huge swath of the South Lawn was covered by the ‘Claw,’ with dressing rooms for the ‘Octagon Girls’ tucked a floor underneath.
Fighters were seen warming up in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the ornate gray building that houses the VP’s office, among other things, located next door to the residence.
The Ellipse was turned into an area where fans could watch the fights, complete with a cash bar selling $12 Bud Lights.
President Donald Trump (center) gives a salute as he takes in the UFC White House event alongside First Lady Melania Trump (front row, right). Other Trump family members in the audience included (from left) Donald Trump Jr, Bettina Trump, Viktor Knavs, Donald Trump III, Kai Trump
Trump family members at the UFC event included (from left) Carolina Trump, Lara Trump, Tiffany Trump, President Donald Trump, Michael Boulos and Donald Trump Jr
Ahead of the event, clouds gathered over the White House as thunderstorms threatened to delay the fights.
But the event started with only a short weather delay.
Earlier Sunday, the President’s public schedule said he was having a celebratory birthday dinner with the Trump family members.
Around the same time, he announced on Truth Social that the US had struck a deal with Iran to end the Iran war.
A peace agreement would likely be signed on Friday.
The President will head to the G7 summit at the conclusion of Sunday night’s UFC event, flying to France overnight.
The First Lady is not attending this year’s G7.
