The US president will occupy the spotlight throughout the lavish celebration, which detractors have criticized as lacking taste amid the conflict with Iran and rising inflation.
On Sunday, Donald Trump marks his 80th birthday in characteristic grand fashion, as the oldest US president ever to hold office stages a violent cage match on the White House lawn.
The unprecedented "UFC Freedom 250" event will feature 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship competitors pummeling each other senseless inside a massive venue dubbed The Claw.
With a price tag of US$60 million, the spectacle is tied to this year’s commemorations for the 250th anniversary of American independence, though it also coincides with the day Trump turns 80.
Opponents have condemned the brutal showcase in America’s most iconic backyard, arguing it is inappropriate during a war with Iran that has driven up costs for everyday citizens.
Trump might secure a long-sought peace agreement with Iran on his special day, though Tehran has expressed skepticism about that timeline.
The billionaire president, who maintains strong ties to a sport whose young male fanbase mirrors his own political supporters, defended the UFC event as a one-of-a-kind show.