Several celebrities who had been invited to Donald Trump’s planned UFC fight card at the White House are reportedly declining the invitation. Last month, UFC boss Dana White announced that he had invited Adam Sandler, Guy Ritchie, Tom Brady, Jared Leto, Jason Statham, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Mario Lopez to attend the event, which is backed by the president and scheduled for June 14 — the president’s 80th birthday — as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
However, according to Vanity Fair, “of that group, few, if any, will actually be there.” A source close to Johnson reportedly told the magazine that he would not attend. Representatives for Sandler and Leto also confirmed to Vanity Fair that they would not be present. A representative for Lopez had previously informed HuffPost that he would miss the event due to “work commitments.” Representatives for Ritchie, Brady, and Statham did not respond to HuffPost’s inquiry about their possible attendance.
Vanity Fair Washington correspondent Aidan McLaughlin suggested that the reluctance reflects “a growing trend in Trump’s second term,” noting that America’s 250th anniversary celebrations “are increasingly seen as tainted by the tawdriness, hyperpartisanship, and self-obsession that have been hallmarks of Trump’s political career.”
Controversy Surrounding the Event
The event itself has already attracted controversy. Podcaster Joe Rogan, a longtime UFC commentator, has criticized plans to stage the fights outdoors, warning about the potential for extreme heat and dehydration among fighters. UFC boss White has acknowledged concerns that the giant lighting rig may attract swarms of bugs. Trump has also drawn criticism after suggesting that the structure being built on the South Lawn could remain in place.
