Donald Trump has hinted at another long-term alteration to the White House, suggesting the temporary UFC arena now being built on the grounds might not be removed once the event is over.
Work on the venue began last week on the South Lawn, ahead of the first mixed martial arts card of its kind set to take place at the White House on June 14.
The large setup includes a raised stage and extensive lighting, with elements styled around the American flag. Trump even likened the project to France’s Eiffel Tower—arguing that, like the famous landmark, something intended to be short-lived could end up staying.
“Many don’t know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower — 1889 it was built — was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World’s Fair,” Trump said Tuesday in a video posted to his official TikTok account.
“And then they said, ‘You know, we sort of like it, let’s leave it up a little bit longer.’”
“Well, they never took it down,” he said in the video.“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 a big UFC fight on June 14, and I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never take it down.”
The June 14 date aligns with Flag Day and Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The event—titled UFC Freedom 250—is expected to include seven bouts and will be broadcast live on Paramount+.
Organizers say the temporary arena will hold more than 4,000 spectators on the South Lawn. They’ve also planned a nearby fan experience on the 52-acre Ellipse, with space for an estimated crowd of around 85,000.
Last month, UFC officials shared a digital rendering of the planned finished look, posting it to social media with the caption: “History in the making 👀,”
The possibility of a UFC card at the White House first surfaced more than a year ago after UFC CEO Dana White said Trump had raised the idea while the two attended an event together.
Following discussions to sort out practical details, Trump publicly confirmed the plan last summer, positioning it as part of wider celebrations tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, culminating around July 4.
The White House card is one of seven events planned to mark 250 years of US independence, alongside other themed programming including the Freedom 250 Grand Prix—an IndyCar race planned to run through the streets of Washington, D.C.