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France is rescheduling this year’s Group of 7 summit to avoid a conflict with a high-profile mixed martial arts event at the White House, according to two officials involved in G7 planning who spoke with POLITICO.
Originally, Paris had announced that the meeting of G7 leaders would take place from June 14 to June 16 in Evian-les-Bains, a picturesque town on the shores of Lake Geneva. The dates were chosen to coincide with Flag Day in the United States and, coincidentally, President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
However, the schedule was disrupted when Trump revealed in October that the White House would host a major UFC fight on June 14. Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, confirmed that the event is fully finalized, with plans to welcome roughly 5,000 attendees to the South Lawn of the White House.
A birthday party changes international meeting dates
The clash of dates prompted France to push back the summit, a rare instance in which international diplomacy was adjusted to accommodate a sporting spectacle. Officials say the decision reflects both the logistical challenges of hosting heads of state and the unique demands of planning a large-scale event at the White House.
The G7 summit has officially been rescheduled to run from June 15 to June 17, a slight shift from the original June 14–16 dates. While the adjustment avoids the June 14 clash with the White House UFC event, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office did not explicitly confirm that the fight was the reason for the change.
Officials in Paris emphasized that the updated schedule resulted from ongoing consultations with G7 partners, suggesting that the decision was made collectively rather than unilaterally. They want to show the move as part of routine logistical planning and coordination among member nations,
The change is now official on the G7 website. The U.S. Embassy in Paris has not responded to questions about the scheduling conflict. Trump has been making headlines recently with his plans for Venezuelan oil reserves.
The G7 is a group of major world economies that meet regularly to discuss global issues. This year’s summit was supposed to start on Trump’s birthday, but the UFC fight plans forced France to adjust the dates.
The White House birthday celebration will now go ahead without conflicting with the international summit. Meanwhile, Trump’s eating habits continue drawing attention as he approaches his 80th birthday.
While some observers see the rescheduling as a pragmatic solution to a scheduling conflict, others have noted the unusual nature of a global diplomatic meeting adjusting around a sporting spectacle.
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