President Donald Trump has suggested that the huge UFC arena currently being erected in front of the White House could stay up indefinitely.
An octagon with an arch looming overhead dubbed “The Claw” will house a showcase mixed-martial arts event on June 14 as part of the Trump administration’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States founding. The date also happens to mark the president’s own 80th birthday.
Taking to TikTok, the president compared the construction to a celebrated world landmark that also stayed up longer than planned.
“Many don’t know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower, 1889 it was built,” Trump said.
“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. 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,” he continued.
“It’s gonna have the big UFC fight on June 14, and I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never, ever take it down.”
Trump’s cage fighting spectacular, organized by his friend Dana White despite his concerns about the logistics of staging the event outdoors, will feature at least seven clashes involving Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira among others.
It will be observed by around 5,000 spectators in person, from VIPs to members of the military, with many more watching on from large screens especially installed for the purpose at Washington’s Ellipse Park nearby.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle has told The Independent the occasion will be a triumph: “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
However, it comes at a difficult moment in Trump’s second term, with the U.S. still unable to agree peace terms with Iran and many Americans still expressing disquiet over inflation and the cost of living to pollsters as November’s midterms loom.
It also comes as the president’s Freedom 250 project has seen numerous artists drop out, claiming they were misled about the political nature of the event.
Morris Day and The Time, Young MC, country singer Martina McBride and former Poison frontman Bret Michaels have all backed out.
Trump is reportedly furious about the exodus and has pledged to headline himself instead, declaring that he is “the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World” and “the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar.”
He has also derided the acts who dropped out as “third rate,” “boring” and overpaid.
