Scandal over UFC tournament at White House: "Overweight people are not permitted to enter"

On 14 June, the UFC Freedom 250 tournament will take place on the White House South Lawn to celebrate President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. An internal memo leaked on social media containing rules for the event has sparked outrage.

To commemorate the 80th birthday of US President Donald Trump and Independence Day, an extraordinary sporting event will be held on 14 June – the UFC Freedom 250 tournament will take place on the White House South Lawn in Washington.

However, a scandal has erupted around the event, triggered by rules contained in an internal memo that leaked on social media. The memo states that "overweight people are not permitted to enter" – this phrase has provoked widespread outrage both among the public and in the media.

The tournament has invited active-duty US military personnel, which has prompted critics to question whether such restrictions are appropriate for an official event attended by members of the armed forces. The UFC is one of Trump's favourite sports, and the president has previously attended multiple UFC events as a guest.

The scandal has spread rapidly on social media, with users sharing the memo's content and expressing outrage over the discriminatory entry requirements. Critics argue that such language is unacceptable in the context of an official presidential event.