Trump Says White House UFC Arena Might Never Come Down
President Donald Trump is suggesting the massive UFC arena under construction on the White House South Lawn may never come down — drawing a comparison to the Eiffel Tower and calling the structure "quite attractive."
In a video posted to his official TikTok account Tuesday evening, Trump spoke from the Oval Office and invoked the history of Paris' most iconic landmark to make his case.
"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: 'leave it up a little bit longer, and then they said, 'let's leave it up longer and longer and longer,'" Trump said in the video.
"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. Really, it's going to have the big UFC fight on June 14, and I'm looking at it and maybe we'll never ever take it down," Trump added.
The Arena Taking Shape on the South Lawn
The UFC cage at the White House, also known as "The Claw," is roughly 90 feet tall and can hold around 5,000 spectators. The structure is visible from the North Lawn, cresting above the historic West Wing and Executive Residence.
The UFC and its parent company are covering all construction costs for the event, while the White House will be responsible for staffing and security costs.
The forthcoming card will showcase fights before an anticipated crowd of 5,000 spectators, with passes distributed to military personnel along with select VIP attendees. Joe Rogan will handle commentary duties, joined by Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik.
UFC Freedom 250: What's on the Card
The "UFC Freedom Fights 250" will take place on June 14 and feature a lightweight title matchup between undisputed champion Ilia Topuria and interim title holder Justin Gaethje alongside four other fights. The date coincides with both Flag Day and Trump's 80th birthday.
The octagon is scheduled to feature several UFC championship bouts — initially promoted as eight title fights, though that figure has since been reduced to two.
Trump has also played a direct role in shaping the fight card. UFC added a bout between Derrick Lewis and Josh Hokit for UFC Freedom 250 after Trump, attending UFC 327 in Miami in April, leaned over to Dana White and asked why Lewis was not on the White House card. White stepped away, called Lewis, and confirmed the bout on the spot.
The Eiffel Tower Comparison
The Eiffel Tower was constructed for the 1889 World Exhibition and was only meant to stay up for 20 years — until 1909, according to the Eiffel Tower's website. Yet the tower's architect Gustave Eiffel fought to keep it intact, and the structure was ultimately never removed.
According to the Eiffel Tower's tourism site, it attracts nearly 7 million visitors a year. There are no known plans for the White House structure beyond the June 14 event.
Trump and UFC: A Long-Running Relationship
The White House fight event is the product of a friendship between Trump and UFC CEO Dana White that stretches back more than two decades. White and Trump have been friends since the early 2000s, when Trump allowed White to host several of his first UFC events at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
Trump has appeared at several top UFC fights during both his terms. Steven Cheung, one of the president's closest communications advisers, has worked for UFC, and Trump's daughter Ivanka was instrumental in securing the event. The June 14 fight was initially Trump's idea, White has said in a number of interviews.
The administration is hoping the spectacle will inspire patriotism among Americans at a time many are feeling uncertain about the economy and foreign conflicts overseas. White, who stumped for Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention, insists "UFC 250" will not be an inherently political event.
Whether the arena stays or goes after fight night, Trump made clear he sees the structure as something to be proud of — Eiffel Tower comparisons and all.
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