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The much-anticipated UFC Freedom 250 event, scheduled for Sunday evening on the White House South Lawn, faces the possibility of a soggy start as weather forecasts predict rain and thunderstorms ahead of the 8 p.m. ET kickoff.
President Donald Trump collaborated closely with UFC President Dana White, a longtime friend, to coordinate the event to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday celebration. However, Mother Nature might have other plans.
The Rapid Response 47 X account, established at the beginning of Trump’s second term to “hold the fake news accountable,” responded sharply to a Weather Channel post highlighting hazardous weather conditions in Washington, D.C., that could disrupt the outdoor fights.
The Weather Channel warned of a “chaotic weather setup,” including a 60% chance of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and wind gusts reaching up to 34 mph. These conditions could delay the UFC bouts on the White House lawn. Additionally, the forecast mentioned intense humidity pushing heat indexes into triple digits, accompanied by swarms of mosquitoes and gnats-posing additional challenges for fighters inside the octagon.
While the event venue benefits from a large 92-foot overhang designed to keep the octagon dry, any lightning strike within an eight-mile radius would trigger an automatic 30-minute suspension of the event for safety.
In response, the Rapid Response account fired back, defending the event as a celebration of “America’s unmatched greatness after 250 years” and dismissed the Weather Channel’s warnings as “clickbait.” The tweet emphasized commitment to proceeding “rain or shine,” closing with “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
With nearly 2 million followers on X, the Rapid Response account echoes President Trump’s style and messaging. Its bio states: “Official White House Rapid Response account.
Supporting POTUS’s America First agenda and holding the Fake News accountable. MAGA!”
The UFC Freedom 250 fight card features seven bouts, including two interim world championship matches, showcasing some of the organization’s most popular fighters. Attendance is expected to exceed 4,000 spectators on the White House lawn, including more than 1,200 active-duty military personnel who meet specific appearance standards.
Despite some criticism of the Trump administration’s spending on non-political events, officials have clarified that no taxpayer funds are being used to finance UFC Freedom 250 beyond normal employee responsibilities. A White House representative told TIME that UFC is fully funding and paying for the event.
As fight night approaches, fans and fighters alike will be keeping a close eye on the skies to see if the UFC Freedom 250 can deliver its knockout moments-come rain or shine.