'White House was built to serve': Gavin Newsom slams UFC event at White House

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on X, stating that the founding fathers of the United States of America would not have approved of it. The event was held on U.S. President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. Newsom claimed that the White House was used to promote the company in which the President had bought stock. He also accused Trump of using his office to enrich himself and his family.

"Tonight it was used to promote a company the President owns stock in, sell subscriptions, promote corporate sponsors, push Trump crypto, and enrich the President and his family," he wrote. Earlier in the day, the California Governor had shared a video of Trump wearing a birthday hat and seemingly dozing off. Videos have emerged of the President with his eyes closed at the White House UFC event, raising further questions about his health.

Newsom is not the only Democrat to have criticised the UFC event at the White House. Speaking in an interview on MS Now, Sen. Cory Booker said that he found the event "staggeringly outrageous." He questioned Trump for organising such an event when Americans are struggling with rising inflation and healthcare costs. "No, he's actually building ballrooms, building arches, and having a big, lavish party sponsored by corporations on the White House lawn," he added.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva shared a Guardian report, which claimed that the fighters participating in the event would be paid in cryptocurrency issued by a company associated with President Trump, and called it an act of corruption. "A Trump crypto company sponsored the UFC White House event and is paying fighters in its own cryptocurrency," she wrote. Despite all the criticism, Trump found an unexpected supporter in popular sportscaster Stephen A. Smith.

"This is a big-time show. I'm not there, and we all know all the complaints folks had about renovations at and around the White House, etc, but—to be fair—this is some impressive stuff I'm looking at," he wrote on X. Trump and Smith had taken verbal jibes at each other after the latter criticised him for attending Game 3 of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden.

President Trump and UFC boss Dana White believed that the event was a massive success. "This event was for America's 250th birthday. There was no political agenda," White said in a post-fight press conference, as per CNN. "I believe that if you are an American, no matter where you sit politically, tonight was just a proud night." Taking to Truth Social, Trump said that the event was "incredible." He also pointed out that the weather on the day was "perfect."

"Most people have never seen anything like that kind of human speed and power before. The White House has never looked more beautiful. The setting was unsurpassed!" he added. Despite believing it was a success, White said that he would never do such a thing again, simply because it was too expensive. "I can't afford it," he said, as per ESPN. "I'll never do the Sphere again, and we'll never do this again." UFC and its affiliate companies put in $60 million into the event.