06/17/2026
Comedian Nate Bargatze is facing backlash online after attending UFC Freedom 250, a White House event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Criticişm erupted after actress Cheryl Hines shared a photo featuring Bargatze with her husband, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while Vice President JD Vance appeared in the background. Additional images showed Bargatze with several prominent political and entertainment figures.
Some fans expressed disappointmenț and vowed to stop supporting the comedian, while others defended him. A source close to Bargatze told The Daily Beast his attendance was motivated by his love of UFC, not politics. The Grammy-winning comedian, known for clean, family-friendly humor rooted in his Christian upbringing, has consistently avoided discussing politics in his performances.