Celebrities skipping – Invited celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Jared Leto, and others, are reportedly backing out of Donald Trump’s White House UFC fight card scheduled for June 14, the president’s 80th birthday—while officials tied to the event face growing backlash over how t
The UFC fight card planned for the White House on June 14 was supposed to bring a showtime sheen to a political milestone: Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, paired with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
But the roster of celebrity guests is thinning fast. UFC boss Dana White said last month he had invited Adam Sandler. Guy Ritchie. Tom Brady. Jared Leto. Jason Statham. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. and Mario Lopez to attend the event. Now, multiple representatives say some of the biggest names will not be there.
A source close to Johnson reportedly told the magazine he would not attend. Representatives for Sandler and Leto also told Vanity Fair that they would not be there. A representative for Lopez previously confirmed to HuffPost that he would miss the event because of “work commitments.”
Other invitees are still out of reach. Representatives for Ritchie, Brady, and Statham did not respond to HuffPost’s question about their possible attendance.
Vanity Fair Washington correspondent Aidan McLaughlin connected the pullback to what he described as “a growing trend in Trump’s second term. ” arguing that the 250th anniversary celebrations are “increasingly seen as tainted by the tawdriness. hyperpartisanship. and self-obsession” he says have marked Trump’s political career.
The fight card has already attracted controversy. and the reported celebrity withdrawals add another layer to a celebration that was meant to feel broadly celebratory—especially for a date that carries personal and national weight. For Trump, the event is positioned as a big, unifying moment. For the guests backing out, the message is simpler: something about the setting is no longer worth the appearance.
Donald Trump White House UFC Dana White celebrity guests Adam Sandler Jared Leto Dwayne Johnson Mario Lopez Guy Ritchie Tom Brady Jason Statham America’s 250th anniversary June 14 controversy
So… UFC in the White House? Wild.
I knew it was gonna be embarrassing. Like why would actors go there when it’s basically politics with muscles.
Wait are they skipping because UFC is banned in the White House or because of the 250th anniversary thing? Sounds like they don’t like Trump’s vibe but also it’s a birthday like… you think the Rock is just “work commitments” but it’s probably the Secret Service lol
This is such a typical Trump move, turning everything into a circus and then acting surprised when people don’t wanna be associated. I don’t even care about UFC but if Tom Brady and Sandler are out then it’s gotta be bad. Also why is America’s anniversary even tied to his birthday… doesn’t that feel kinda messed up? Anyway, Dana White probably promised them something and then it fell apart.