politics
Trump Hosts Youth Fitness Event at White House, Tours Reflecting Pool Renovation, Announces UFC Freedom 250 Arena
President Donald Trump restored the Presidential Fitness Test in U.S. schools on May 5, 2026, and warned children about Iran during the ceremony. He later hosted UFC fighters to unveil plans for a June 14 South Lawn event on his 80th birthday while overseeing a $2 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool coated in American Flag Blue.
May 7, 6:04 PM·2m read5 sources
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The New YorkerAudio version
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President Trump signed a school fitness proclamation on May 5, 2026. During the ceremony he told attending children that Iran had been two weeks away from acquiring a nuclear weapon before the United States and Israel acted.
“You might be too young for this, I don’t know. They probably know. But you can’t let a bunch of lunatics have a nuclear weapon, or the world would be in trouble,” Trump said to the children.
Following the signing, the White House held a field day on the South Lawn with professional athletes and children. LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau performed 30 pull-ups and 50 push-ups alongside 90-year-old retired golfer Gary Player. Ice hockey player TJ Oshie attended the May 5, 2026 White House field day.
Washington Nationals baseball team mascots waved at President Trump and gave high-fives to reporters. Trump taught children how to do his signature YMCA dance as the song played. On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, President Trump hosted UFC fighters in the Oval Office and displayed renderings of the UFC Freedom 250 octagonal arena planned for the South Lawn.
“Not bad, right? Our country is invited to this. It’s free,” Trump said while showing the UFC renderings. The UFC Freedom 250 event is scheduled for June 14, 2026 on the South Lawn, marking President Trump’s 80th birthday and occurring weeks before the nation’s 250th birthday.
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, President Trump visited the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect its renovation. His motorcade drove across the covered-up pool. The renovation costs $2 million and applies an American Flag Blue coating; the bottom used to be gray before the current renovation. President Trump stated the Reflecting Pool granite has been leaking like a sieve.
He ordered the Reflecting Pool drained so the Park Service could clean out goose-poop stains and worked with his pool guy to sandblast it before applying the new coating. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whom Trump tasked with heading the Reflecting Pool renovation, was present during the May 7, 2026 visit. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin attended as well.
