President Donald Trump has compared the UFC structure being built at the White House to the Eiffel Tower and says he may “never, ever take it down”.
The UFC is set to host an unprecedented show on the South Lawn of the home of the United States’ leader in Washington DC on 14 June, to mark 250 years of American independence.
Construction has started, with workers assembling domed arches over a staging area which will become the octagon.
Trump says he may choose to leave the arena standing because it is “attractive to a lot of people”, like when Paris decided to keep the Eiffel Tower.
The famous structure, built in 1889 as part of the World’s Fair to celebrate 100 years of the French Revolution, was planned to be taken down 20 years later before French authorities decided to keep it.
“Many don’t know that it was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World’s Fair,” Trump said on Tiktok.
“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.
The event is called UFC Freedom 250 with the UFC set to spend around $60m (£44.3m) on the project.
The show is headlined by a unification bout between Georgian-Spanish lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and American interim title holder Justin Gaethje.
In the co-main event Brazil’s Alex Pereira faces Frenchman Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
UFC president Dana White said last month that 4,300 people will watch the event on the South Lawn, most of whom will be members of the military, while 85,000 tickets will be made available for free to members of the public to watch the event at the nearby Ellipse Park.
The UFC said no tickets will be on general sale to the public.
The White House has hosted recreational sports and events in the past, but the UFC’s show will mark the first professional live sporting event to take place on the grounds.
The event marks another White House construction in a series of projects by the Trump administration to remake the residence.
Since returning to the White House for a second term last year, Trump has added gold details to the Oval Office, paved over the rose garden to install a patio space, refurbished the bathroom attached to the Lincoln bedroom and demolished the East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.
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