‘Reeks of corruption’: protesters rally as Trump hosts UFC event on his birthday

Demonstrations took off in Washington and across US as Trump throws first private, for-profit sporting event ever held on White House grounds

Dozens of people stood across the entrance gates to the Ellipse, the park south of the White House, on Sunday afternoon, holding protest signs and chanting as the president prepared to host seven mixed martial arts fights on the lawn.

Thousands of fight fans streamed past the protesters into the sprawling public viewing area that the Trump administration and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is hosting the fights, erected steps from the White House. The cage fights, marketed as a celebration of the country's fighting spirit" ahead of its 250th anniversary, are being held on Donald Trump's 80th birthday.