The Secretary of State praised the mixed martial arts company as "reflective of the American spirit"
Credit: Janos Kummer/Getty; TPLP/Getty; Allen Berezovsky/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised UFC as “reflective of the American spirit” ahead of the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 fights at the White House
- President Donald Trump constructed a massive octagon on the South Lawn for the event, which also happens to take place on his 80th birthday
- Rubio and UFC president and CEO Dana White also signed a memorandum of understanding to create a public-private partnership with the mixed martial arts company
The Trump administration is singing the praises of UFC ahead of the president's birthday fight night.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part in a signing ceremony with UFC president and CEO Dana White on Thursday, June 11, a few days before the "UFC Freedom 250" event is set to take place on the White House lawn.
The seven-fight spectacle, which takes place on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday on Saturday, June 14, is part of the wider America 250 anniversary celebrations taking place in Washington, D.C., this year.
A massive octagon has been constructed on the South Lawn of the White House for the fights, which raised some controversy; however, in his remarks, Rubio said that the parallels between the U.S. government and UFC as a sporting organization run deeper than some might think.
"The very idea of America that you could have a country founded on the principle that your rights come not from your government or from your leaders, your rights come from your creator, was an audacious idea," he told reporters at the signing event. "No one else believed that in the world at that time."
"When President Kennedy announced that we were going to put a man on the moon and return him safely to the Earth, no one thought that was possible, and we did it," Rubio continued. "We are a nation founded on doing what no one else dared to do and no one else aspired to do. And at some level, that's what this whole company, what UFC, has been."
Praising White's vision in shaping UFC into the mixed martial arts powerhouse it is today, Rubio said, "Dana and the people around him had a vision, and that is to create a structure around this company.
"What you've built now is this global company that not so long ago would have seemed impossible," he added. "Today, you have one of the most recognizable American sports brands on the planet. And in and of itself, I think [that] reflects so much the American spirit is reflected in the American in this American company."
Credit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty
The Secretary of State also promoted the fights as a way to bring people together during politically divisive times.
"We do everything separate from one another in this country, and I would say increasingly around the world," Rubio said. "We are so polarized. There are only a handful of things that bring people together in one place at one time, united by their interest in one thing. We need more of those."
He praised the diversity of UFC crowds as well, saying the sport appeals across socioeconomic lines.
"This is one of those few things we have left in our country, and I would say in the world, that brings so many people from so many different places, so many different backgrounds, and so many different points of view together for a few hours to enjoy one thing in common," he marveled.
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Not only will UFC Freedom 250 give people the opportunity to celebrate America's anniversary — it will also give the president the potential to make a pretty penny.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Trump purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 of stock of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC, on March 25, according to a May 12 financial disclosure filing viewed by PEOPLE. The Huffington Post was first to report the news.
“I've been involved in a lot of big events,” the president told reporters at the White House in April. “I have never had an event that has had more interest than the UFC fight we have right at the front door.”
Read the full article here