President Donald Trump hosted a UFC Fight Night event on the White House lawn Sunday, drawing attention from supporters and critics alike. A counter-programming effort organized as "Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment" took place simultaneously in New York City, hosted by actress Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment.
The concert featured performances and speeches from various entertainers and activists over approximately three hours. The event was streamed on multiple platforms including left-leaning YouTube channels and C-SPAN.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators criticized both the counter-event and its participants. Commentator Stephen Miller (not to be confused with the White House aide) responded to Joy Reid's remarks on social media: "Nothing she says here is true but she has the right friends in media so they will all applaud." He described her commentary as conspiracy theorizing accepted due to shared political views.
Writer Ian Miller at Outkick commented on the concert quality, stating: "It is impossible to describe how much worse this is than Kid Rock doing an alternative Super Bowl halftime show."
Conservative commentator Libby Emmons questioned the counter-event's messaging on social media. "'No one is getting left behind this time' from what? And who are they singing about? And how are they so off-key?" she wrote.
Online commenters mocked performances and participants, with posts describing entertainers as "dusty relics who peaked decades ago" and questioning the effectiveness of counter-programming efforts against a high-profile presidential appearance.
What the Left Is Saying
Participants at the counter-event argued they were exercising their constitutional rights to free expression. Actress Bette Midler performed a modified version of Woody Guthrie's "All You Fascists Bound to Lose," with altered lyrics referencing immigration enforcement agencies. She stated during her performance that participants aimed to send a message about defending democratic norms.
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid spoke at the event, arguing that media professionals who had been dismissed from positions were targeted for their criticism of the administration. "The threat is not coming, friends. It is here," she said. "Brendan Carr, the man who wrote the blueprint to dismantle the FCC and Project 2025 is now running it." She listed journalists including Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, Terry Moran, Scott Pelley, Jim Acosta, and Karen Attiah as examples of media figures dismissed for speaking out.
Children's entertainer Ms. Rachel, who has protested outside ICE detention facilities, joined several children on stage to express concerns about federal law enforcement operations. Actor Robert De Niro appeared at a separate event over the weekend, stating: "I can't love a country that's led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant."
What the Numbers Show
The Trump UFC event at the White House drew significant media coverage and social media attention. Viewership figures for both events were not independently verified by deadline. The counter-concert was attended by approximately 40 participants in the Singing Resistance New York group, according to reports. Social media engagement metrics for both events varied widely across platforms with no unified measurement available.
The Bottom Line
The simultaneous programming highlighted ongoing tensions between supporters and critics of the Trump administration. Counter-event organizers framed their actions as protected speech under the First Amendment, while critics characterized the effort as ineffective. Both sides claimed victory in shaping public narrative around the evening's events. No injuries or incidents were reported at either location.