politics
Secretary of State Rubio Signs UFC Partnership at State Department
The agreement creates a public-private partnership between the U.S. government and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rubio spoke about political polarization before the signing.
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U.S. government and the UFC. Before the signing, Rubio addressed a crowd at the White House.
He said the country is divided by many factors. "We get our news from different places, we follow different accounts online, we do everything separate from one another in this country — and I would say increasingly around the world — we are so polarized," Rubio stated. Rubio continued that few activities unite people across those divides.
"There are only a handful of things that bring people together in one place at one time, united by their interest in one thing," he said. S. " A 4,300-seat stage with pyrotechnics has been built on the White House lawn for the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled next week.
Rubio said the pyrotechnics unsettled the Secret Service during testing. The event coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. A March report by German polling firm Statista found political polarization in the United States is particularly strong, with many citizens identifying as far-left or far-right.
The administration has described the UFC partnership and related events as efforts to foster national unity. , to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary include a free IndyCar race on the National Mall in August.
