A massive structure on the lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been nicknamed “The Claw” because of its 90-foot-tall steel arches. It currently dwarfs the President’s residence and consists of camera rigs, a lighting grid, and an overhead canopy in case of rain.
The structure is being assembled for the first professional sporting event ever held on the White House grounds: a UFC event called UFC Freedom Day 250, scheduled for June 14, coinciding with President Trump’s birthday, and forms part of the broader celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
President Trump has described it as potentially “the greatest show on Earth.”
Critics, however, have called it a monstrosity, lacking in class, tone-deaf, overtly political, and too closely tied to Trump’s birthday. Meanwhile, Joe Rogan — the sport’s most famous commentator and the world’s most-listened-to podcaster — has described the event as “odd” and said he does not like the idea.
Sean Gregory, Time Magazine’s sports correspondent, joins Gavin Lee from New York.
Produced by Gavin Lee, Théophille Vareille, Emmanuel Miculita, Guillaume Gougeon and Alessandro Xenos
