Has Trump paused all flights? Journalist's viral post raises questions during UFC Freedom 250 event at White House
Passengers traveling through Washington, D.C., on Sunday night reported significant flight delays as military aircraft conducted a high-profile flyover above the White House during UFC Freedom 250.
The claim came from journalist Clara Sophia Daly, who posted on X that passengers aboard her flight were informed of an unexpected delay because air traffic had been paused while military aircraft conducted an air show at the White House.
Daly is an immigration reporter who has reported for multiple news outlets like Mission Law, Miami Herald and Columbia Journal.
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What did the journalist claim?
“Come to find out, the president of the United States has paused ALL flights because of the UFC fight at the White House,” Daly wrote.
According to Daly, passengers aboard a departing flight at Reagan National experienced a delay exceeding two hours. She said neither travelers nor airport personnel appeared to have received advance notice of the disruption.
Daly also described frustration among passengers, including a mother traveling alone with an infant to San Francisco.
She said, “There’s a young mom flying alone from Washington DC to San Francisco with her 8-month-old, and she is worried about the long journey. Wishes she could just depart the plane now.”
She also quoted the pilot as calling the situation “one of the most frustrating things I’ve experienced in 20 years of aviation.”
However, neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor the White House have publicly confirmed that all flights were suspended at the time of publication.
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Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyover White House lawn
UFC Freedom 250 opened with a joint flyover by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
The flyover marked the end of a weekend of military shows associated with the occasion, which also marked the beginning of the country’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
According to USA Today, the demonstration teams flew a Super Delta formation above the White House as country singer Zac Brown concluded the national anthem. President Trump saluted from the South Portico while UFC CEO Dana White stood beside him.
In the days preceding the battles, the Golden Knights parachute team, marine drill platoons, and Nitro Circus stunt riders all gave performances.