White House marks 250th anniversary, Trump's 80th with cage fight

US President Donald Trump  celebrated the nation's 250th anniversary and his 80th birthday with a UFC show featuring seven fights within an eight-sided, wire-mesh cage on the White House South Lawn.

Trump and UFC chief Dana White walked together from the Oval Office to the Blue Room Balcony, then stood for the National anthem as fighter jets streaked overhead.

Before the anthem began, the two men shared a moment on the balcony. Trump smiled as White pointed to the Octagon.

Trump and White then put on somber expressions as they walked the rest of the way to the cage where the UFC fights are set to happen.

The UFC is staging seven fights under the Freedom 250 banner to mark Trump's birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's signing.

More than $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been poured into building the arena, according to a court filing from the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn.

The event was met with much criticism and some hiccups, with one lawsuit filed last week calling for a halt to the event.

Construction on the octagonal wired fight cage had been underway for weeks.