French officials have postponed the upcoming Group of 7 summit to accommodate an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on President Donald Trump’s birthday, according to a new report.
The annual G7 summit, which brings together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, was originally scheduled to take place June 14-16 in Evian-les-Bains, France.
But after Trump announced that a UFC fight would be held at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday, Paris changed the dates of the summit to avoid a conflict with the event, A politician reports. The G7 summit is now scheduled for June 15-17.
A White House official said the summit was rescheduled to “accommodate” Trump’s schedule.
“As the leader of the free world, our partners believed that President Trump’s attendance at the G7 Summit was essential. They have kindly changed the dates to accommodate the US President’s schedule,” the official said in a statement to The Independent.
French officials have reportedly rescheduled the G7 summit to avoid a conflict with a UFC fight at the White House on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday (AFP via Getty Images)
A spokesman for French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly declined to comment for him A politician on whether the change was linked to the UFC fight, saying instead that the new dates are “the result of our consultations with the G7 partners.”
The Independent contacted the French embassy for comment.
Trump first announced plans to host a UFC fight at the White House during an October rally in Norfolk, Virginia. Trump is a longtime UFC fan and has attended countless UFC fights.
“On June 14, next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House, right on the White House grounds,” he said.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed new details about the event this week on CBS Mornings.
President Donald Trump has attended a number of UFC fights, including one in November 2024 with his son, Donald Trump Jr., and Elon Musk (AFP via Getty Images)
“We’ve literally finished going through all the logistics of how to set it up there … It’s like we’re going to have 5,000 people living on the White House lawn,” White said Thursday.
“We’re going to have big screens, and we’re going to have the stage and music throughout the day. We’re basically going to take over DC that whole week, with a lot of different things for fight fans,” he added.
White also revealed that the fighters will “actually walk through the Oval Office” for the event.
Trump attended last year’s G7 summit — held in Canada — but left early, citing concerns about the conflict between Israel and Iran at the time.
“A lot has been achieved, but because of what is happening in the Middle East, President Trump will leave tonight after the dinner with the Heads of State,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.