By Juana Carrasco Martín on June 14, 2026 from Havana
a gladiator fight for Trump’s birthday, Aaron Schwartz / Bloomberg via Getty Images
For his birthday, the U.S. President has treated himself to a grotesque spectacle
An octagon has been erected in the White House gardens—the “cage” or ring used for UFC fights—and named The Claw. A metal and mesh structure weighing 600 tons, it is 47 meters wide and 28 meters high. It is taller than the White House itself.
It will be the centerpiece of an expensive event (60 million dollars), with 4,000 guests cheering on the 14 contenders on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) card—the visible face of modern professional mixed martial arts, the bloody competition where almost anything goes in extremely violent bouts and where millions flow freely even as they jeopardize the physical and neurological health of those who put their bodies on the line in The Cage in a grotesque display of violence.
It is a fitting self-gift that President Donald Trump is giving himself, because he joins the ranks of octogenarians this June 14, and he does so with the spectacle of a corporate power structure, suited to that exaggerated need for attention that is part of his personality, in which his propensity to be the bully in this complex neighborhood of international relations on the diverse planet Earth also stands out.
There will be blood in the White House gardens during the display of punches, grappling, and submission attempts in accordance with the competing disciplines that, according to some critics, are part of “an industry built on the fighter’s ignorance.”
That word, “ignorance,” brings to mind the perception of those who might believe the president when he claims that the UFC will cover “the costs” of what he presents as a great way to kick off the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence. He has called it UFC Freedom 250, and he boasted to the New York Post on Thursday: “They are the toughest people you will ever meet.”
And in the realm of the grotesque, we cannot overlook Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who signed a partnership agreement on Thursday with UFC President Dana White to promote mixed martial arts internationally. Business is business. Make no mistake, so he didn’t hold back on Pinochet-esque rhetoric: “That’s what Sunday is all about; it’s a gift to the American people,” Rubio said, adding that it would be watched by “probably a billion people around the world.”
Some interesting facts about the co-organizer of this Casablanca-style sporting monstrosity. The UFC has faced lawsuits in court from some fifty of its former fighters—men and women—over the aftereffects of their injuries and the exploitative treatment of their abilities.
One of those men sacrificed to this barbarity, Spencer Fisher—17 fights and 12 years in the UFC—described in the court filing: “While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many significant injuries, including broken hands, a torn shoulder, a torn retina, a fused neck, and bulging discs; I have had two spinal taps showing the presence of Tau protein, a positive indicator of dementia. I fear I have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and notice symptoms common to TBI and CTE, including depression, mood swings, and irritability. This money would truly be transformative for me,” he said in reference to the damages they are seeking. Of course, he is not the only one now largely seeking to pay for the medical care they need, including a roof over their heads and food on the table.
It is almost obvious to draw a parallel between the worn-out bodies and severe depression suffered by these men and women and the current situation in the United States, caused in large part by the President’s decisions—whose ties to Dana White, the UFC executive, are close. There are also heartbreak, trauma, anxiety, and struggles for the citizens of a country where its wars—especially the one against Iran—have driven up the cost of living for the average American.
Let’s quote Dana White, in an interview with ESPN: “These guys are paid exactly what they’re supposed to be paid. They eat what they kill.” He reinforces the “business” nature of the sport and refuses to deny that its financial growth translates into a redistribution of revenue with the athletes.
The business of the UFC and Dana White—as well as that of Trump and his opportunistic acolyte, Rubio—continues full steam ahead on nothing but dirty tricks, with no consequences so far. Note: there are allegations that Trump purchased $50,000 worth of shares this year in TKO Group Holdings, the UFC’s parent company.
Truly, Mr. President knows no bounds… though limits should be imposed on a malignant narcissist who wants to show the world—including through the spectacle of mixed martial arts—that he has the power and strength to dominate it.
The Claw will be dismantled once the match in the octagon is over—a fleeting and wasteful life that may be mirrored in the birthday boy and his collaborators.
Source: Juventud Rebelde, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English