Hunter Biden took aim at Donald Trump Jr. and the UFC Freedom 250 event in a lengthy social media post, ending his criticism with a challenge to settle things in a cage match.
The former first son framed the post as a letter to Joe Rogan, who had dismissed criticism of the White House event by telling those offended to “shut the f–k up.” Biden argued that staging a UFC event on the South Lawn crossed a line, saying the White House is not personal property belonging to any president.
“The White House does not belong to Donald Trump. It does not belong to any president. It belongs to the people,” Biden wrote.
He described the White House grounds as a public and symbolic space, not a backdrop for what he viewed as a political spectacle. Biden compared the event to the Roman Colosseum, suggesting it carried the tone of an emperor entertaining the masses rather than a president respecting a democratic institution.
“To treat it as Caesar treated the Colosseum is antithetical to everything our founding fathers fought for,” he wrote.
“This is not Rome. Presidents are not emperors doling out bread and circuses for the peasants,” Biden continued.
The UFC Freedom 250 event was held on the White House South Lawn and drew several high-profile attendees, including Donald Trump Jr. Photos from the event showed the octagon set up on the grounds, with the White House serving as the backdrop.
Biden did offer some praise for Rogan and UFC founder Dana White, calling the organization a “bona fide American success story.” Still, he argued that bringing the promotion to the South Lawn turned the event into something very different from a sports celebration.
He called it “an exhibition of imperial domination, not a celebration of our 250th anniversary as a democracy.”
In Biden’s view, the message sent by holding the event there was that Trump viewed the White House as his own residence to use however he pleased.
“By holding the event on the South Lawn, what he was saying to the rest of us is: ‘This is my house. I own it. I will do with it what I please. I’ll build a colosseum and have the gladiators fight under my gaze,’” Biden wrote.
He closed by saying “the president is our servant. Not our Caesar.”
Then came the challenge.
“P.S. Cage match between me and Don. Jr? Your call on the venue. Anywhere but the South Lawn.”
Biden’s post did not address past criticism directed at his father’s administration over White House events and displays, including a 2023 Pride Month display on the Truman Balcony that critics said violated U.S. flag code. He also did not mention a separate 2023 controversy involving transgender TikTok personalities who posed topless on the South Lawn to show their mastectomy scars.
