Fighter at Donald Trump’s White House UFC event smears Michelle Obama during interview – US politics live

From 5h agoTrump's UFC fights at White House marred by misogynistic smear aimed at Michelle Obama

Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.

Donald Trump’s UFC fights held on the White House lawn were marred by a misogynistic smear aimed at former first lady Michelle Obama last night.

Beneath a giant steel canopy known as the Claw, the president celebrated the forthcoming 250th anniversary of US independence – but, much more importantly, his own 80th birthday – by staging the first professional sporting event in White House history.

Several winning fighters greeted Trump after their bouts, while American fighter Bo Nickal followed ‌his knockout victory by climbing over the cage fence to ‌shake Trump’s hand.

Another fighter, heavyweight Josh Hokit, gave a rambling post-fight interview that veered from praise for the president to religion before concluding with the false conspiracy claim that “Michelle Obama is a man.” The remark, one of the oldest and most persistent smears directed at the former first lady, drew cheers from some sections of the crowd and bewilderment from others.

Hokit’s comments were not the evening’s only political barb. When former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley faced Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi, the bout took on a nationalistic fervor.

Trump donned a white “USA” hat cageside while chants of “U-S-A!” rang out from sections of the crowd. At various points spectators shouted “Canada is the 51st state!” – echoing Trump’s repeated taunts about annexing America’s northern neighbor – while others urged O’Malley to “eat” his opponent.

Meanwhile, dozens of people stood across the entrance gates to the Ellipse, the park south of the White House, holding protest signs and chanting.

“This reeks of corruption – way too much corruption,” said Susan Douglas, an organizer with Third Act Virginia, the progressive pro-democracy grassroots organization that organized the demonstration. “Let’s face it,” she added. “It’s for Trump’s birthday and has nothing to do with the founding of our country.”

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced last week that it will pay bonuses to fighters in a form of cryptocurrency issued by Trump family business World Liberty Financial.

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In other developments:

Trump arrives in Evian-les-Bains on Monday afternoon for talks with G7 leaders, including some who have been sharply critical of his managing of the roughly 15-week conflict that has led to a surge in global energy prices. World leaders began gathering in a French spa town for the summit with a new impetus following the US president’s announcement of an agreement that he says will bring an end to the war against Iran.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed in the early hours of Monday an agreement for an “immediate end” to the US-Iranian war, and said Lebanon was included in a peace deal due to be signed on Friday. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced the agreement on Sunday afternoon, saying both sides would be declaring “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”.

Trump told Vladimir Putin that ending Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine was critical and that he was prepared to help, reported Russia’s TASS news agency. During a phone call on Sunday, Trump also informed the Russian president that the US was nearing a peace deal with Iran as the US-Israel war against the country continues, according to Yuri Ushakov, a Putin adviser.

JD Vance said he would discuss a 2028 US presidential run with his wife, Usha, after the 2026 midterms. “Usha and I will absolutely sit down and talk about what comes next for our family,” said Vance. The US vice-president gave insight into his ongoing decision on whether to run during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning where he spoke on his new memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, which details his conversion to Catholicism.

Donald Trump has landed in Geneva ahead of this week’s G7 summit, shortly after announcing his tentative peace agreement with Iran to end a war that has upended the global economy and killed thousands of people in the region.","elementId":"5134e500-ca6c-4c1a-8f77-62745910212d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also meet with G7 leaders, including Trump, tomorrow, as Russia’s invasion of his country rages on – though there’s no word yet on whether or not he’ll get a one-on-one with the US president.","elementId":"f41623e2-3a95-40b5-b3be-dbe8c635a5fb"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

This year’s summit comes as Trump’s relations with many of the other G7 leaders is at an all-time low. Indeed, he’s fallen out massively with several key allies who have criticized his war on Iran – British PM Keir Starmer, German chancellor Friederich Merz (who described the war as a humiliation of the United States), and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. He’s always had a turbulent relationship with Macron, but that’s also disintegrated after Trump’s “inelegant” comments about his private life. Trump’s relationship with Canadian PM Mark Carney also remains cordial yet tense. Indeed, the only G7 leader Trump has a warm relationship with at the moment is Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.","elementId":"74e9bfb8-e147-44e9-8513-07c59cb27e77"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

A reminder that Trump left last year’s summit in the Canadian Rockies after only a day as the Israeli-Iran conflict intensified. Three days later he joined Israel in bombing key Iranian nuclear sites.","elementId":"ba42f600-0c7e-43e9-a886-3c6104bbc620"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781533231000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"16.20 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781535642000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"17.00 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781534893000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"16.48 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"16.48","title":"Trump arrives for G7 summit at tense moment for relations","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Mon 15 Jun 2026 17.00 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Mon 15 Jun 2026 11.58 CEST"},{"id":"6a2fed0c8f084fe6123b54bc","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

A framework peace deal between the US and Iran has been reached, Donald Trump and senior Iranian officials have said, bringing the 15-week conflict to a tentative end and offering hope of relief for the region and the world economy.","elementId":"85f4e67b-1a66-4b59-99d6-2551390b891c"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said war and military operations on all fronts, including Israel’s war in Lebanon, would end permanently from tonight.","elementId":"3cd9c18c-0fad-4df0-939d-d234bebadd3d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The precise terms of the deal remain unclear but in a statement posted to Truth Social yesterday evening, the US president announced the opening of the strait of Hormuz as well as the removal of the US naval blockade. “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he wrote.","elementId":"66a4c3d8-fb45-4e15-a58c-d4ce8d28c553"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Trump later clarified that reopening the strait would depend on the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding on Friday, which Pakistan, acting as mediator, said would take place in Geneva.","elementId":"eb4939ce-9eb5-495c-9252-8509b328df93"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Leaked drafts suggest the memorandum will trigger an immediate 60-day period of intensive technical talks, during which the most contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, will be discussed. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed that negotiators would seek to reach a broader agreement that would include sanctions relief for Iran.","elementId":"530091ab-3eac-445b-9146-2ee6bb66ec58"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, most of them in Iran and Lebanon, since US and Israeli forces first attacked Iran on 28 February. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases, targeting military and civilian infrastructure.","elementId":"1784d9ce-6162-4807-84f2-17842c26077a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Here’s Jason’s full report:","elementId":"dc7a4dae-d320-4fc7-87b3-e7e2e75910b1"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"US and Iran reach framework peace deal to end war ","elementId":"c2698c5e-87cb-4b6e-8abf-54175a014d56","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/14/trump-calls-for-restraint-israel-airstrikes-beirut-us-iran-peace-deal"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781525772000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.16 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781526019000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.20 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781526020000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"14.20 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"14.20","title":"US and Iran reach framework peace deal to end war","contributors":[{"name":"Jason Burke","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/08/02/Jason_Burke.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cb0094e64d3a2dae0af9eeb41d0986d6","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/08/02/Jason_Burke.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=779d20f78704780e6979710404205573"}],"primaryDateLine":"Mon 15 Jun 2026 17.00 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Mon 15 Jun 2026 11.58 CEST"},{"id":"6a2fe26c8f084fe6123b5419","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Donald Trump has announced plans to hold a rally in Washington on 4 July as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, saying the event will include a speech, performances, flyovers and fireworks.","elementId":"9629cb32-dea8-4512-9406-37d5c546c533"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

“On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ’TRIBUTE TO AMERICA.’ Starting at 7 P.M. EST, this HUGE Celebration will honor our Country’s People, Spirit, Strength, Resolve, and Triumphs,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.","elementId":"ea18f64d-26bd-4b83-8c5f-9c9c14f2866e"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781523052000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"13.30 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781523084000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"13.31 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781523084000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"13.31 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"13.31","title":"Trump announces 4 July rally in Washington to mark US 250th anniversary","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Mon 15 Jun 2026 17.00 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Mon 15 Jun 2026 11.58 CEST"},{"id":"6a2fce8e8f0844b952dc2e9c","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

JD Vance said that he will discuss a 2028 US presidential run with his wife after the 2026 midterms.","elementId":"8f71eb25-e710-43ac-8103-a6e97f8f6517"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The US vice-president gave insight into his ongoing decision on whether to run during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning where he spoke on his new memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, which details his conversion to Catholicism.","elementId":"f46cc9f8-e649-4c56-877d-1e2ac6e2adb4"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

“Usha and I will absolutely sit down and talk about what comes next for our family,” said Vance. “People sort of assume that I’m sitting around, figuring out, whether I’m gonna run for president … the way that I make decisions is that I try not to make them until I absolutely must.”","elementId":"8f897e8f-835e-4b0f-b89e-5231e9043a85"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The vice-president added that he believes Trump will be “very supportive” on his decision. “I have no doubt that the president of the United States is going to be very supportive of anything that I ultimately decide to do,” said Vance.","elementId":"92f9eda1-29ea-47b4-9de1-71e2a192e5c7"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Vance added that he never begins discussions with Trump about his future political plans. “I never bring it up. But sure, the president brings it up a lot, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. You know, the president’s a political animal. He loves this stuff. He’s very fascinated by it.”","elementId":"619a204d-6d55-40dd-9b2d-84fe83ea7373"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"JD Vance says he will discuss 2028 presidential run after midterm elections","elementId":"17e9f694-edb9-44e1-aadf-40b7d6e51422","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/14/jd-vance-2028-presidential-campaign-midterms-talks"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781517966000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"12.06 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781518337000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"12.12 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781518337000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"12.12 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"12.12","title":"Vance says he will discuss 2028 presidential run after midterms","contributors":[{"name":"Gloria Oladipo"}],"primaryDateLine":"Mon 15 Jun 2026 17.00 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Mon 15 Jun 2026 11.58 CEST"},{"id":"6a2fc4f18f08aab611ab87b4","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.","elementId":"3afb2701-4bc1-4ded-93c8-51d04a4c83cf"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Donald Trump’s UFC fights held on the White House lawn were marred by a misogynistic smear aimed at former first lady Michelle Obama last night.","elementId":"f7fa8ca8-0b58-4e7f-a9ad-6e2bed589a79"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Beneath a giant steel canopy known as the Claw, the president celebrated the forthcoming 250th anniversary of US independence – but, much more importantly, his own 80th birthday – by staging the first professional sporting event in White House history.","elementId":"ee8a3590-5e41-42b3-b09a-6548592890d0"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrenderin