Less than two months ago, Donald Trump strolled across the White House lawn chatting with King Charles and Queen Camilla – a scene of calm diplomacy in the spring sunshine.
Last night the same lawn saw a different vision of American power.
In a joint celebration of the President’s 80th birthday, and the nation’s upcoming 250th, the White House became the scene of a cage-fighting contest for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event.
The brashness and machismo of the UFC contest was pure Trump, complete with a motorbike circus, military flypast and fireworks to entertain the thousands of spectators in between the rounds of mixed martial arts.
But this was entertainment with a purpose – projecting a vision of Trump’s America to the country and the world, and rewarding his supporters with a night to remember where they could revel in their version of patriotism.
