Overview
- An internal Department of Defense memo circulated about attendance for the June 14 White House 'UFC Freedom 250' says military ticket recipients must meet a waist-to-height ratio below 0.55 and current service fitness standards, according to reporting first published Friday.
- CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins read the memo on air and converted the ratio to approximate maximum waist measurements of about 37 inches for the average man and 35 inches for the average woman.
- A defense official quoted to CNN used blunt language to describe the selection preference, while the White House told commentator Scott Jennings on Friday that the Washington Post report was "fake news" and denied restrictions on attendance.
- The memo also instructs attendees to wear short-sleeve dress uniforms and asks commands to nominate personnel from units outside the National Capital Region, raising ethical and political questions about using troops for event optics.
- The dispute has produced public scrutiny that could prompt further Pentagon review or clarification of policies on when service fitness and appearance standards apply to ceremonial or public-facing events.