How Did Media Cover Trump's 'Freedom 250' Versus Biden's Pride Celebration on the White House Lawn?

The White House South Lawn has seen many years of celebrations and countless visitors over its existence, but nothing like on June 14 as red, white and blue lights illuminated “Freedom 250” – a UFC fight held by President Trump in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. 

Media outlets generally described the seven fight event as a “spectacle,” but differed greatly in how they interpreted its significance. While left-leaning media often framed it as an inappropriate use of the White House, right-leaning outlets emphasized its celebrations of American culture and patriotism.

Three years earlier, former President Biden used the same south lawn to host a celebration in honor of Pride Month. These two events have been contrasted – mostly by those on the right – as Republicans and Democrats debate what types of events belong at the White House and the sanctity of the White House lawn.

AllSides analyzed media coverage from “Freedom 250” and the 2023 pride celebration. Here’s what we found. 

Key Findings:

• Right-leaning outlets largely framed Freedom 250 as patriotic entertainment and a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, while left-leaning outlets generally portrayed it as a violent symbol of Trump’s power politics and of masculine culture.
• Left-leaning outlets generally framed Biden’s 2023 Pride celebration as an affirmation of LGBTQ+ rights amid political challenges, while right-leaning outlets emphasized cultural conflict and controversy surrounding the event.
• Language choices showed differences in how the media characterizes things like patriotism, freedom, courage and the role of the White House.

The White House as a symbol

Freedom 250

Outlets on the right generally described Freedom 250 as a patriotic spectacle that represented national unity and adequately honored America’s 250th anniversary. 

• The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) said that Trump promised "a fitting tribute" for America's 250th anniversary, and he "delivered in terms of theatrics." 
• Fox News (Right) emphasized military showcases during the event and mentioned that many fighters thanked Trump for “having the courage” to put on the event as other victors “jogged ringside to shake his hand” and show their respect.

Outlets on the left often emphasized the brutality of the event and alluded to it being an embarrassment for the White House and an “ominous” reflection of Trump’s presidency.

• An opinion writer in the Salt Lake Tribune (Lean Left) wrote, "American dignity, down for the count" and called the fight both "an absurd spectacle" and "an ominous one." The writer described "cognitive dissonance" around seeing the White House used as a place for diplomacy and Easter Egg hunts, and also now a series of cage matches, which the writer said could be "just the beginning." 
• The Atlantic (Left) said the fight reflected "the violent essence of [Trump's] worldview" and described the event as a "night of dominance and submission." 
• A photographer for the Associated Press (Lean Left) described the event as an “unusual White House scene,” and included details that the event was “a night of mixed martial-arts cage match brawls…with bloodied competitors battling it out.”

Pride Celebration

Left-leaning media generally framed the Pride celebration as a moment of inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ individuals. They also contextualized the event within legislation in 2023 targeting transgender individuals, specifically within red states. 

• The Guardian (Left) wrote the event was “intended to be a high-profile show of support at a time when members of the LGBTQ+ community feel under attack like never before.”
• The Associated Press wrote the event was Biden’s way of showing LGBTQ+ individuals that he “had their back” at a time when “advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation.”

Meanwhile, right-leaning outlets emphasized controversy surrounding the event, including a violation of Flag Code and claims that it was “indoctrinating kids.”

• The Post Millennial (Right) highlighted criticism of the event calling it “inappropriate and disrespectful” and saying, “It is hard to imagine any other circumstance where public nudity would be not only condoned but celebrated on the White House lawn.”
• Of the Pride flag, the Post Millennial wrote that the American flag looked “substantially diminutive in comparison, something of an afterthought compared to the bizarrely patterned flag denoting sexual depravity and gender identity indoctrination.”
• In its headline, the National Review (Lean Right) wrote, “Is ‘No Nudity on the White House Lawn’ Really Too Much to Ask?” The outlet also said this is what happens when “be yourself goes wrong.”
• A Fox News article described the Progress Pride Flag displayed as “a mysterious and divisive new symbol of pride.” It quoted Jaimee Michell, the lesbian founder of Gays Against Groomers, who described the flag as a representation of an “ideology, a political statement of indoctrinating kids and trans kids and pushing kids to sterilize and mutilate themselves.”

Different definitions of “American values”

Freedom 250

Many right-leaning outlets emphasized themes like patriotism and military pride surrounding the event. Some also emphasized that the event celebrated working-class America, including men who are often forgotten by mainstream media and the left. 

• An opinion in the American Conservative (Right) described critics of the event as “snobs” who missed the “profound patriotism” and “respect for troops” that was “felt in every detail” of the event.
• The American Conservative writer also said that Trump spoke “directly to the once-forgotten Americans—the working-class people who were invisible for decades,” including “regular guys” like bricklayers, bartenders and real military heroes. 

Meanwhile, left-leaning coverage often emphasized concerns about aggression, with several outlets providing commentary on the idea of masculinity and poking fun at male bravado surrounding the event. 

• Commentary in Salon (Left) alleged the fight "can't hide MAGA male weakness" and the fact that the US is losing the Iranian war. The writer argued that the fight was a "pitch-perfect illustration of how fragile traditional, right-wing masculinity really is" and that it "exemplified MAGA's false understanding of what strength actually looks like." 
• In an essay for the New York Times (Lean Left), freelance journalist Hope Reeves said the event helped her “better understand” her sons and their fascination with UFC, which she’d hoped to be “just another icky, adolescent phase.” Reeves described her concern as her “angelic sons [were] transfixed, gleeful, even, at this gaudy brutality” that was “intertwined with patriarchal values.”

Pride Celebration

Outlets on the left and in the center emphasized how the celebration showed inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ individuals.

• The Associated Press quoted an LGBTQ+ activist who said the Pride celebration was important because “we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry.”
• CNN (Lean Left) emphasized Biden supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and their “extraordinary” courage, while acknowledging “the discrimination and violence the community faces.” Biden called out Republican restrictions against LGBTQ+ individuals as “hysterical” and “prejudiced.” 
• The Hill (Center) emphasized Biden telling LGBTQ+ individuals that they are “loved” and “heard,” while Reuters (Center) described Biden as offering “joy” as “LGBTQ+ attacks mount.”

Many outlets on the right juxtaposed Biden’s comments about LGBTQ+ individuals being “brave” with criticism from military personnel and veterans.

• The New York Post (Right) quoted Victor Marx, a former Marine and founder of All Things Possible, who said, “Every veteran that has fought for this country and sacrificed so much is disgusted by the symbolism of the pride flag overtaking our nation’s flag at the White House.” 
• Fox News wrote that Biden’s claims that he saw more courage at the Pride event than “any time in the recent past” came ten days after he addressed cadets at the Air Force Academy, suggesting that Biden seemed to recognize military bravery as unequal with bravery among LGBTQ+ individuals. 
• The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) compared Biden’s proclamations for D-Day and Memorial Day, saying he saved his “most fulsome praise of American bravery and courage” for Pride Month.

Word choice and framing

Freedom 250

Left-leaning outlets more frequently used terms like “violent,” “brutal,” “unusual” or “dominance” to describe Freedom 250. Meanwhile, right-leaning outlets often used words like “patriotic,” “tribute,” and “honor.” 

Other right-leaning narratives focused on attacks against the event, including left-leaning censorship and dismissal of the event, and how the FBI stopped an actual planned terror attack on the event. Breitbart (Right) and Washington Times (Lean Right) also highlighted famous figures who faced backlash for attending the fight, including comedian Nate Bargatze.

• An opinion writer in the National Review (Lean Right) argued that “media authoritarians…want to dictate our amusement” as they ignored the event as part of their attempt to stoke a "cultural civil war." The writer said this was an "attempt to control popular thinking about contemporary politics." 
• The writer also said the event “outlined the cultural civil war through the difference between blue-collar activities and class-based entertainment.”

Pride Celebration

Left-leaning outlets often used language like “joy,” “bravery,” and “support” to highlight the Pride event, its participants and advocates. Right-leaning outlets conversely used words like “controversial,” “divisive,” and “inappropriate.” Terms like “courage” and “celebration” were used in coverage of both events but were applied differently between left- and right-leaning outlets.

• An opinion writer in the Washington Post (Lean Left) described the event as a reflection of how far Washington DC had come to become “queer-friendly.” The writer juxtaposed the welcoming nature of the event with “less friendly territory” that LGBTQ+ individuals were heading back to afterward, saying the event offered “a sunny reprieve from a fog of antagonism.”

Cross-ideological exceptions

AllSides found a few instances of ideological cross-over in coverage of Freedom 250, but not of the Pride event. Some right-leaning outlets highlighted their own criticism of the fight, while a few on the left highlighted praise for the UFC fight.

• The Washington Examiner shared several opinions about the event including one by an author who called the UFC event "sickening." The writer described the event as "a repudiation of civilization" as "disfigured" men who often resemble gang members "meet in a cage…and beat each other until bloody or unconscious."
• Jeffrey Blehar (Lean Right) in an opinion for National Review (Lean Right) described the event as "a Carnival of Fools no matter where you looked." He argued that while Trump "knows how to stage a spectacle in praise of himself," the event couldn't "distract from [his] woes," including the Iranian war.  
• The Washington Post shared a letter to the editor from an attendee who called the fight “fabulously spectacular.” The author said they were willing to bet that “even some of the staunchest critics of the event secretly watched and cheered in the privacy of their own homes” and that it was “a pity that they won’t share that they enjoyed the show just as much as staunch MAGA supporters.”