{"id":3884,"date":"2026-05-28T14:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/28\/no-kings-event-set-for-14-june-as-trump-celebrates-birthday-with-white-house-ufc-bout\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:40:00","slug":"no-kings-event-set-for-14-june-as-trump-celebrates-birthday-with-white-house-ufc-bout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3884","title":{"rendered":"No Kings event set for 14 June, as Trump celebrates birthday with White House UFC bout"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"9e2da045-5005-41c7-8446-005f33b07afc\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Demonstrators hold signs saying 'No Kings' and 'Stop Trump'\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/fd8af88b5dad775b15b1e2c53863461537b8e392\/0_0_5568_3712\/master\/5568.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">People participate in the No Kings national day of protest in Boston, Massachusetts, on 18 October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: Joseph Prezioso\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"9e2da045-5005-41c7-8446-005f33b07afc\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">People participate in the No Kings national day of protest in Boston, Massachusetts, on 18 October 2025.<\/span> Photograph: Joseph Prezioso\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">No Kings event set for 14 June, as Trump celebrates birthday with White House UFC bout<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>A Night to Build Community will feature concert with Bette Midler, Patti Smith and Rufus Wainwright streaming nationwide<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The No Kings movement has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nokings.org\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">announced<\/a> a nationwide event on 14 June, directly counter-programming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s 80th birthday celebrations and a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout on the south lawn of the White House.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"c7528da5-4ea2-4423-8571-e1519cbb374b\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-1 | 1\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-ak3j0c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/ufc-arena-white-house-trump-birthday\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">UFC arena under construction on White House lawn to mark Trump\u2019s 80th birthday<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The centerpiece is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetownhall.org\/event\/rise-up-sing-out-a-concert-for-the-first-amendment\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">90-minute concert<\/a> at New York\u2019s Town Hall featuring entertainer Bette Midler, songwriter Patti Smith, actor Jane Fonda, musician Rufus Wainwright and commentator Joy Reid \u2013 streaming free nationwide, while local groups host watch parties across the country. The event is co-presented by the Committee for the First Amendment, a coalition of artists and cultural figures, and frames the US\u2019s 250th anniversary as a moment of democratic reckoning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The plans put two very different visions for the occasion in direct competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US president is billing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ufc\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">UFC<\/a> Freedom 250 as a historic national celebration: a star-spangled octagon arena on the south lawn of the White House, with 4,000 ticketed guests, and a fan festival on the Ellipse expected to draw up to 100,000 people. The weigh-ins are reportedly set to take place at the Lincoln Memorial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump has claimed that demand for tickets, for an event which will feature a title fight between the lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and the interim champion Justin Gaethje, has been unlike anything he has seen. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called it \u201cone of the greatest and most historic sports events in history\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure id=\"45f8c70f-8695-4461-9f4b-bcd9b0de92ef\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-7 | 7\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-ak3j0c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/jun\/19\/no-kings-how-many-protesters-attended\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Were the No Kings protests the largest single-day demonstration in American history?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">No Kings, meanwhile, announced a concert, billed as A Night to Build Community, after a string of major mobilizations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe can let strongman politics and corruption define the moment,\u201d it said in a statement. \u201cOr we can make the story of America about people coming together \u2013 across race, background, identity, belief and community \u2013 to defend our rights and build a future rooted in people power.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The first No Kings day, held on Trump\u2019s 79th birthday last June to coincide with a military parade in Washington DC, drew an estimated 5 million participants nationwide, and by October, organizers claimed 7 million people turned out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A third mobilization in March brought an estimated 8 million people into the streets in all 50 states and more than two dozen countries \u2013 which organizers described as the largest single-day protest ever recorded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This year\u2019s action adds a cultural dimension to the street protests, pairing the concert format with local community gatherings that organizers say will include art-making and civic action alongside the broadcast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/protest\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Protest<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/series\/building-power\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Building power<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/music\/patti-smith\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Patti Smith<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/stage\/bette-midler\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Bette Midler<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/music\/rufus-wainwright\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Rufus Wainwright<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/film\/jane-fonda\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Jane Fonda<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/sport\/ufc\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">UFC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=No%20Kings%20event%20set%20for%2014%20June,%20as%20Trump%20celebrates%20birthday%20with%20White%20House%20UFC%20bout&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/28\/no-kings-concert-patti-smith-bette-midler?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F28%2Fno-kings-concert-patti-smith-bette-midler&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/28\/no-kings-concert-patti-smith-bette-midler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People participate in the No Kings national day of protest in Boston, Massachusetts, on 18 October 2025. Photograph:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3884\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}