White House posts UFC photos, public reacts to controversy

The While  House on Monday released photos of President Donald Trump meeting the fighters during the Ultimate Fighting Championship event held there. 

"Year of the patriot," wrote the White House's official Instagram account alongside the photos. 

The post received mixed reactions from followers. One user wrote, "The most exciting part was Trump sleeping."

"No patriots are in this photo, just two men touching each other. Happy Pride Month," commented another.

Referring to Josh Hikit's controversial remark about the former first lady, another use wrote, "Michelle Obama is not a man"

Donald Trump hosted mixed martial arts fights on the White House lawn on Sunday, an unprecedented ​spectacle highlighting his willingness to blend the pageantry of his office with his brutal brand of politics and his family’s business interests.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's seven ‌bouts are the first professional sporting event hosted at the White House in its history. 

It is part of the Trump administration's celebrations of the nation's 250th anniversary, and is a centerpiece in the president's summer of sport.

Several winning fighters greeted Trump after their bouts. American fighter Bo Nickal followed his knockout victory by climbing ​over the cage fence to shake Trump's hand. 

Josh Hokit, gave Trump an item that he hung around the president's neck before delivering an expletive-ridden speech that included praise ​for the president and concluded with a misogynistic jab at former first lady Michelle Obama.

After the event, UFC chief executive Dana White reiterated his view that it should not be viewed through a political lens.

"On America's 250th birthday, hopefully tonight created some unity," said White, a longtime friend of the president. 

"Like even for the people that thought this was going to be some big political statement or something. This wasn't. This was Americans, all ​Americans, celebrating the birthday."