Donald Trump has suggested that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena being built on the White House South Lawn could remain permanently, comparing it to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In a video posted on his official TikTok account on Tuesday, the president likened the structure to the iconic French landmark, which was originally intended as a temporary installation for the 1889 World's Fair but was never dismantled.
“People don’t know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower, 1889 it was built. It was supposed to be taken down immediately after the world’s fair, and then they said, ‘You know we sort of like it, let’s leave it up a little bit longer’, and then they said, ‘Let’s leave it up longer and longer and longer,” Trump said. “Well, they never took it down, and you know we’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people. It’s going to have the big UFC fight on 14 June, and I’m looking at it and maybe we’ll never ever take it down.”
The octagonal ring, featuring 90ft steel arches with cameras and American flag patterns, is being assembled for the Freedom 250 card on 14 June, marking Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of US independence. The UFC is covering construction costs, with TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro estimating the total production cost at $60m, noting the event will not turn a profit. UFC president Dana White added that $700,000 will be spent to restore the South Lawn grass after the event.
Trump told reporters last month that the arena will hold 4,500 spectators, mostly military members, with no public tickets available. An additional 75,000 to 100,000 people can watch on screens from the Ellipse near the White House. The card includes two title fights: Ilia Topuria v Justin Gaethje for the lightweight belt and Alex Pereira v Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title.
The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to stand for 20 years before its architect, Gustave Eiffel, advocated for its permanence. The UFC arena is the latest in a series of White House remodelling projects by Trump, including gold details in the Oval Office, paving over part of the Rose Garden, and razing the East Wing to build a ballroom.
