'Freedom 250' UFC Fight Draws Bipartisan Critique of Masculinity, Patriotism

President Trump held the "Freedom 250" UFC fight on Sunday as part of a series of events celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Media across the political spectrum highlighted commentary around patriotism, masculinity and the significance of the fight on the White House lawn.

Mixing Sports and Patriotism: 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." It highlighted praise from attendees who called it "unbelievable" and said it takes guts to host an event like this. Daily Mail (Lean Right) also emphasized excitement from attendees, including their praise for the musical performances and the rendition of the National Anthem, saying the night "didn't disappoint." Fox News (Right) wrote that Joe Rogan (Center) "blasted" critics of the event and defended the event as a nonpartisan and unprecedented patriotic event. National Review (Lean Right) wrote that most mainstream media ignored the event as part of their attempt to "dictate our amusement" and stoke a "cultural civil war" in which they "attempt to control popular thinking about contemporary politics." Other outlets on the right focused on how the FBI stopped a planned attack on the event and highlighted famous figures who faced backlash for attending the fight, including comedian Nate Bargatze.

'A Spectacle': Some outlets across the political spectrum emphasized criticism of the fight. 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." An opinion in MSNOW (Left) argued Trump was "obsessed with the spectacle of power – and has little concern for anything else." 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." Another opinion in the Washington Examiner said the event was "sickening" and "a repudiation of civilization" as "disfigured" men who often resemble gang members "meet in a cage…and beat each other until bloody or unconscious." In an opinion for National Review, Jeffrey Blehar (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. 

'Sure, Why Not?': In an opinion for Wall Street Journal (Center), sports columnist Jason Gay said the fight was "never going to be demure entertainment." He described his attendance at the event as "brain-breaking," ultimately deciding that it made sense for Trump–a longtime UFC fan. Gay wrote that the event could mean "whatever you like" for the country as the "metaphor police throw their hands up in surrender."

Commentary on Masculinity: Some outlets on the left poked fun at male bravado surrounding the event. An opinion writer for Business Insider (Lean Left) described it as "a semiotician's fever dream, a branded, cartoonishly chest-thumping spectacle of American carnage, carnivalism, and capitalism." The writer emphasized aspects of hypermasculinity throughout the event, including Ram Trucks revving their engines, sports betting, mechanical bulls, models dressed in sports bras and men doing push-ups before photos. 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 said 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." The New York Times (Lean Left) said, "Displays of potent patriotism and unchained masculinity were indeed on full display." The outlet interviewed young men on their opinions of the fight and asked whether the "masculine spectacle [would] help young men forgive and forget their growing disappointment" with Trump.

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