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Trump Says White House UFC Arena Construction Starts Next Week

The move sets an imminent build timeline, leaving security, access, logistics unclear.

Overview

  • Trump, speaking to reporters Friday, said crews will start assembling a roughly 5,000‑seat structure on the South Lawn within a week.
  • The UFC show is scheduled for June 14 as part of America 250, marking the first UFC event held on White House grounds.
  • Organizers plan large public viewing on the Ellipse, a park just south of the White House, with Trump citing 100,000 viewers and Dana White saying 85,000 free tickets will be distributed.
  • A mockup of the temporary arena known as The Claw was built in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and reports say the UFC expects to spend about $60 million on production.
  • The White House declined to provide further operational details, while critics questioned the optics and security of staging cage fights at the presidential residence during a period of global tension.