D.C.'s hottest ticket: Trump's UFC fight night

President Trump is staging UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on June 14, calling it "the hottest ticket that I've ever seen," with 5,000 VIP seats around the Octagon and 85,000 public tickets being given away for outdoor viewing on the Ellipse. Donors, lobbyists, and members of Congress are intensely competing for the scarce cage-side seats, with some Republican operatives reporting they're being inundated with requests they can no longer handle. The UFC event, headlined by a lightweight bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje and streaming on Paramount+, coincides with Trump's birthday and Flag Day as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. Trump aides say ticket distribution to VIPs remains "fluid," but big donors to Trump's ballroom project, his allied super PAC, and his closest Capitol Hill allies are expected to get priority—though some seeking seats will likely be disappointed.