Donald Trump’s over-the-top plan to stage a massive UFC fight night on the White House lawn is already getting roasted online — and the event hasn’t even happened yet.
This time, critics aren’t focused on the cage fights, the politics, or even the bugs reportedly swarming the venue.
They’re focused on the American flag.
And according to social media users, it’s missing two states.
The controversy erupted after Ultimate Fighting Championship released a promotional mock-up for Trump’s planned White House UFC event — a patriotic mega-spectacle designed to celebrate both America’s 250th birthday and Trump’s own upcoming 80th birthday.
The rendering showed a giant UFC setup positioned on the White House South Lawn near the recently renovated Rose Garden.
There was only one problem.
The American flag featured in the image reportedly displayed just 48 stars instead of the correct 50.
Within minutes, eagle-eyed users online spotted the mistake and the mockery exploded across social media.
Critics immediately ridiculed the error, especially because the entire event is being framed around aggressive America-first branding and patriotic symbolism by President Donald Trump and UFC president Dana White.
“America First… except for Hawaii and Alaska,” one viral commenter joked.
Others mocked the irony of a hyper-patriotic White House event accidentally using an outdated American flag.
The event itself already sounded surreal before the flag controversy erupted.
Trump reportedly wants thousands of spectators gathered outside the White House for a full UFC showcase featuring cage fights directly on federal grounds.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest event we’ve ever had at the White House,” Trump recently declared.
The proposal instantly generated controversy because of the unusual optics of hosting violent mixed martial arts fights at the symbolic center of American government.
Now the event is also being mocked for logistical chaos.
According to Dana White, who recently toured the White House grounds for planning purposes, another unexpected problem has emerged:
Bugs.
Lots of them.
White admitted he was stunned by the overwhelming number of gnats and insects flying around the outdoor site.
“The amount of gnats that were flying around…” White reportedly said in disbelief during a podcast appearance.
He warned the insects could create serious distractions for fighters competing under massive lighting rigs during a nighttime event.
“Moths, gnats, and God knows what else,” White joked.
He reportedly is now considering industrial fan systems to keep insects away from the octagon.
The bizarre combination of cage fighting, patriotic spectacle, bug invasions, and now an inaccurate American flag has turned the event into instant internet comedy material.
Supporters of Trump and UFC fans argue critics are overreacting to a simple design mistake and insist the event itself will be historic and entertaining.
Critics, however, say the blunder perfectly symbolizes what they view as the administration’s obsession with spectacle over substance.
The event also highlights Trump’s increasingly close relationship with the UFC and combat sports culture.
Throughout both presidencies, Trump has repeatedly attended UFC events alongside Dana White and has embraced the organization as part of his broader populist political identity.
Now that relationship appears set to move directly onto White House grounds themselves.
Whether the event ultimately happens exactly as planned remains uncertain.
But one thing is already guaranteed:
The internet will never let them forget the 48-star flag.