WASHINGTON, June 3 - President Donald Trump said he might leave in place the temporary Ultimate Fighting Championship arena being assembled on the White House lawn, comparing the installation to structures intended as temporary attractions in other eras.
Speaking with a smile in a short TikTok video posted on Tuesday, the president likened the construction to the Eiffel Tower - which he said was originally meant to be dismantled two decades after its 1889 completion - and suggested the White House structure could likewise endure.
"We’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people," Trump said. "It’s gonna have the big UFC fight on June 14 ... maybe we’ll never ever take it down."
The temporary arena is being built for a single night of cage fighting scheduled to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, an event that also coincides with the president’s 80th birthday. It is unclear from the video whether the president was announcing a plan under consideration or jesting on the platform, which draws a younger audience.
White House officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether the structure would remain in place beyond the planned event.
Organizers expect the UFC event on June 14 to draw more than 4,000 people. The fight will form part of a broader slate of semiquincentennial activities in Washington, D.C. Many attendees are expected to be members of the military.
At present, four large metal scaffolding towers rise in front of the White House, positioned above the Truman Balcony - the columned terrace that overlooks the South Lawn - and are set to support suspended video screens for the event.
The president’s comment adds uncertainty about the future of the temporary installation. Observers and officials have not provided further details about whether any decision has been made to retain or remove the structure after the June 14 event.
Context note: The construction is explicitly described as being built for a night of cage fighting tied to the semiquincentennial and occurring on June 14.