Trump flies off the handle at the Weather Channel for predicting hellish thunderstorms for his UFC birthday event: 'It turned out PERFECT'

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 01:27, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 01:27, 16 June 2026 Donald Trump ripped the Weather Channel over their forecast for his 80th birthday celebration during Sunday night's UFC event at the White House.  The Weather Channel had predicted 'a chaotic weather setup' that could 'trigger an automatic 30-minute freeze' during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn.  Trump mocked the inaccurate predictions on Truth Social Monday.  'The UFC at the White House last night was incredible,' he wrote. 'The weather was scheduled to be horrendous, and it turned out to be PERFECT! So much for weather predicting.'  The White House also blasted a 'bulls***' headline about the weather that said: 'Rain, 30 mph winds, and mosquitoes on the White House lawn.'  'This event is about celebrating America’s unmatched greatness after 250 years — which apparently doesn’t sit well with the friendless loser who wrote this bulls*** clickbait headline,' the account posted. 'Rain or shine, we’re celebrating our great country no matter what.' Thousands of fight fans and some protestors descended on Washington, where officials ultimately gave their green light to proceed despite reports of lightning and thunder in the area. Fortunately for attendees, not to mention the tens of thousands on the Ellipse for the watch party, the threatening storms held off, allowing the fight card to get underway shortly after the original scheduled 8pm start.  Donald Trump (pictured left) ripped the Weather Channel and praised those involved in his UFC event at the White House The President spent his 80th birthday celebration at UFC Freedom 250 ended inside the octagon on the White House 's South Lawn Trump called the event 'one of the most exciting days in the History of our fabled White House!' As is usually the case whenever Trump attends UFC events, plenty of his family were on hand, including daughter Ivanka, her brothers Donald Jr and Eric, as well as their wives, Bettina and Lara, and granddaughter Kai - the majority of whom joined him in the octagon celebrations at the arena.  Although the event was named in honor of the country's upcoming 250th birthday, Sunday was also aimed at celebrating Trump as he entered his ninth decade.  So, while much of the night was spent honoring service members and raising money for veterans' charities, there were also helpings of praise and gifts heaped upon the President. The White House's South Lawn was never an obvious choice for a UFC event, but at Trump's insistence, promoter Dana White acquiesced.  Although many liberal critics of the President complained about the optics of cage fighting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, MMA fans and the MAGA faithful were quick to declare the night an unqualified success. The night began with a chorus of trumpets as Trump sauntered in from the White House alongside White before the Zac Brown Band's rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. A 12-jet flyover followed as AC/DC's Thunderstruck blared over loudspeakers - a somewhat ironic decision as the event was delayed by storm forecasts in the area. But the weather couldn't stop Trump's inner circle from gathering cage-side. However, the network had predicted 'a chaotic weather setup' that they claimed could 'trigger an automatic 30-minute freeze on the entire event.' Trump mocked the predictions on Truth Social Melania was escorted to her seat by a uniformed service member and she was later joined by her 20-year-old son Barron, the President's youngest child, who is rarely seen in public.  Many top officials made grand entrances, including secretaries Scott Bessent (Treasury), Pete Hegseth (Defense) Robert F Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services) and Howard Lutnick (Commerce), House Speaker Mike Johnson and FBI director Kash Patel, who brought his country singer girlfriend Alexis Wilkins.  Vice President JD Vance was also spotted in the crowd, while Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller was joined by his wife, Katie, just 11 days after she gave birth to the couple's fourth child. Other Trump supporters in attendance included billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe and influencer Logan Paul, as well as a number of high-ranking UFC champions. The UFC boasted of spending $60 million on UFC Freedom 250, which wasn't expected to turn a profit due to the tickets awarded to service members and the free watch party at the Ellipse abutting the White House's South Lawn. Meanwhile, Washington, DC, spent an estimated $10 million to $12 million on security for the event. A city spokesman told ESPN that the city does not expect to be reimbursed by the UFC. The show was steeped in pageantry and stands as an outlier among UFC events. Meanwhile, UFC's ring girls, who normally parade around the cage in skimpy outfits, were covered up for a more PG-rated fight night.  The women were stylishly dressed in more full-body outfits, some that flowed past the knee or to the ground, that incorporated the American flag into the designs. Trump sits quietly on is 80th birthday as fans await another fight at UFC Freedom 250 The Claw, as the structure is known, offers a support system for the UFC's many lighting fixtures  Wearing a full suit and tie despite the heat and humidity, Trump spent most of his time sitting stony-faced, watching the action through the wire-mesh cage.  During another break in Sunday's action, Zuckerberg approached Trump and spoke with him for several minutes. Much of the interest around the event has centered on the outdoor setup - something White has traditionally resisted due to concerns about weather and bugs.   Eric shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the distinct setting for Sunday night's fight festivities.  From the roof of the White House, the 42-year-old showed an aerial view of the newly constructed arena underneath the Claw. To the side, cranes loomed over the White House as part of the construction for the new East Wing ballroom.  Meanwhile, outside the White House, protesters targeted Trump over his immigration policy, allegations of corruption and the war with Iran, which the President once again claimed to have ended earlier Sunday.  'Congratulations to all!' he wrote on social media, without providing details about the deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. He added, 'Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!'  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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