Donald Trump has suggested that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena being constructed on the White House South Lawn could remain permanently, comparing it to the Eiffel Tower. In a video posted on his official TikTok account, the president said: 'Maybe we'll never ever take it down.'
The octagonal ring is being assembled for a series of seven fights on 14 June, marking Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of US independence. The 90ft steel arches, featuring camera mounts and American flag patterns, are expected to house 4,500 spectators, mostly military personnel, with no public tickets available. An additional 75,000 to 100,000 people can watch on screens from the Ellipse nearby.
The UFC is covering construction costs, estimated at $60m for the entire production. Dana White, UFC president, said his organisation will spend $700,000 to restore the grass after the event. The Freedom 250 card features two title fights: Ilia Topuria v Justin Gaethje for the lightweight belt and Alex Pereira v Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title.
Trump likened the arena's potential permanence to the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair and originally intended to be temporary. The UFC arena is the latest in a series of White House remodelling projects under Trump, including gold additions to the Oval Office and a new ballroom.
