WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump turned 80 in typically dramatic style on Sunday (Jun 14) - announcing an Iran peace deal shortly before he was due to hold a cage fight on the White House lawn.The peace agreement to end the war with Tehran was the icing on the cake of the unprecedented birthday festivities for the oldest American president ever to take office.Trump will later preside over an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gala on the historic South Lawn, watching 14 star fighters beat each other to a pulp underneath a space-age arena called "The Claw".But there could still be rain on Trump's parade, literally, with weather forecasters issuing a warning for thunderstorms over Washington that could disrupt the fight night at the White House.
Costing US$60 million, the UFC Freedom 250 event is linked to this year's festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence - but it also happens to fall on the day that Trump enters his ninth decade.Critics have derided the cage fight, saying it is a tacky debasement of the White House by a president who has repeatedly shattered norms during his time in power.Trump has also faced criticism for staging the event after a war with Iran that has sent global energy prices soaring and caused a major knock-on effect for US consumers.In a social media post announcing the Iran deal - which Tehran has yet to confirm - Trump said "let the oil flow!""UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY"The billionaire president - who has deep ties with a sport whose young male fans reflect his own political base - defended the UFC event as a unique spectacle."This is going to be an event you're really gonna like," Trump said as he hosted some of the muscle-bound, bare-knuckle fighters in the Oval Office in May.The White House says the UFC is bearing the entire cost.UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari denied blending sport with politics."The way we look at this is we have an unbelievable, incredibly unique opportunity to celebrate this country and our athletes," Borsari told a news conference this week.In a dramatic touch, some of the top fighters taking part in Sunday's event are reportedly set to emerge from the Oval Office itself before marching out to the South Lawn.The fights themselves will take place in the Octagon, an eight-sided wire mesh cage, surrounded by seats for more than 4,000 spectators.UFC combatant Michael Chandler, who is fighting on Sunday, said it was the "biggest fight event in combat sports history".There will be a stunt bike display, military bands, a US military flyover and parachute display and a 10-minute fireworks finale.
