France has postponed this year's Group of Seven (G7) summit to avoid a scheduling clash with a major event planned at the White House on June 14, POLITICO reported, quoting two sources.
Paris had earlier announced that the G7 leaders' meeting would be held from June 14 to June 16 in Evian-les-Bains, a resort town on the shores of Lake Geneva. The dates coincided with US Flag Day and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
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"On June 14 next year, we're gonna have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House," Trump said, during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, marking the US Navy's 250th anniversary.
The event is part of broader celebrations for America's 250th anniversary and is being billed as one of the UFC’s most ambitious showcases to date.
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White confirmed that preparations for the event were complete, telling CBS News that up to 5,000 people are expected to attend on the South Lawn of the White House.
Following the announcement, the G7 summit has now been rescheduled to June 15–17, according to POLITICO. The updated dates are already reflected on the official G7 website.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office declined to confirm whether the change was directly linked to the UFC event, saying instead that the revised schedule was "the result of consultations with G7 partners."