President Donald Trump teased that the UFC arena placed on the White House lawn has the potential to become a permanent fixture.
“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, 79, said in a TikTok video on Tuesday, June 2. “And then they said, ‘You know, we sort of like it, let’s leave it up a little bit longer.’”
Trump explained that Paris “never took” down the Eiffel Tower and hinted that his UFC arena could have the same fate.
“We’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people,” he continued. “It’s going to have a big UFC fight on June 14, and I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never ever take it down.”
The president is hosting a UFC fight scheduled on June 14, which also happens to be Trump’s 80th birthday. Six matches will be held on the White House’s lawn. The event, which has been titled UFC Freedom 250, is part of the multiple celebrations for the United States of America’s 250th anniversary.
The arena itself holds about 5,000 guests. Fans can watch the match on screens at the Ellipse, which is a 52-acre park between the White House and the National Mall.
Construction on the arena began last month. It includes a fighting cage and towering stage lights adorned with the American flag’s iconic stars and stripes on the side.
Trump has not been able to contain his excitement to bring the octagon to the White House. Last summer, he shared his idea for the big celebration.
“Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re going to have a UFC fight. We’re going to have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” Trump told a crowd at an event in July 2025. “We’re going to build a little [octogon]. We’re not, Dana is going to do it. Dana is great, one of a kind. [There’s] going to be a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people, and we’re going to do that as part of 250 also.”
Not only will there be a UFC match at the White House, but Freedom 250 also includes a series of concerts for the Great American State Fair. However, Several artists, including Bret Michaels and Martina McBride, claimed they were told the concerts were part of a nonpartisan celebration and have since dropped out of the event.
