President Donald Trump compared the UFC arena being built on the White House South Lawn to the Eiffel Tower and suggested it may remain permanently. "Many don't know that it was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World's Fair. They said 'you know, we sort of like it, let's leave it up a little longer'. And then they said 'let's leave it longer and longer' and they never took it down. We're building something in front of the White House that's quite attractive to a lot of people. And I'm looking at it and maybe we'll never, ever take it down," Trump said in comments reported on June 3 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Construction began in early June on the octagonal cage and steel dome arches that will house UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. The event marks both Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of US independence [1, 6, 7, 2, 3, 4]. UFC has estimated spending around $60 million on the event, covering production costs including fighter pay and construction [1, 6, 7, 3, 5]. The arena structure is 87 feet tall [5].
The event is the first professional live sporting event held on White House grounds. About 4,300 spectators are expected on the South Lawn, mostly military members, with an additional 75,000 to 100,000 expected to watch on large screens nearby, though reports differ slightly on exact attendance figures [1, 3]. UFC president Dana White said the grass on the South Lawn will require $700,000 in restoration after the fights [3].
The fight card includes title bouts such as lightweight champion Ilia Topuria versus interim champion Justin Gaethje, and interim heavyweight title bout Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane [1, 3]. UFC commentator Joe Rogan initially called the idea of outdoor fights in Washington DC's June heat "odd" but later embraced the event as quintessentially American and "so Trump" [6, 7]. White also voiced concerns about insects affecting outdoor fights [6, 7].
Controversy arose as UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland claimed he was barred from attending due to political reasons, though UFC has not publicly responded [6, 7].
Trump’s comparison of the UFC arena to the Eiffel Tower is not fully accurate; the Eiffel Tower was originally intended to stand for only 20 years before being dismantled but was preserved due to its military and scientific value [4, 5]. The UFC arena is among several changes to White House grounds under the Trump administration, including plans for a new ballroom and alterations to the Rose Garden and Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool [1, 3, 5].
The UFC Freedom 250 event is scheduled for June 14, 2026, and construction is ongoing to complete the arena ahead of the show.
