Donald Trump compared the UFC Freedom 250 setup on the White House South Lawn to the Eiffel Tower and floated the idea that the temporary fight structure might stay up after the June 14 card.
The president posted the clip while construction continues for the outdoor event, the same setup that already had Joe Rogan worried about heat, bugs, weather, and arena control. Trump previously predicted a massive audience for UFC Freedom 250, and his latest message leaned into the visual of a fight stage sitting in front of the White House.
Watch the clip below:
@realdonaldtrump MAYBE WE’LL NEVER EVER TAKE IT DOWN
“Many don’t know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower, 1889, it was built, it was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World’s Fair. And then they said, ‘You know, we sort of like it, let’s leave it up a little bit longer!’ And then they said, ‘Let’s leave it up longer and longer and longer.’”
Trump then moved from the Eiffel Tower comparison to UFC’s White House event.
“Well, they never took it down. And, you know, we’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people. It’s going to have the big UFC fight on June 14, and I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never, ever take it down!”
Trump’s Eiffel Tower Comparison Puts More Attention On UFC Freedom 250
The Eiffel Tower was built from 1887 to 1889 for the 1889 World’s Fair, which also marked the centennial of the French Revolution. It drew criticism from some artists and writers before becoming one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the United States president, and its grounds have hosted major public events for generations. UFC Freedom 250 is a rare use of that space, with Dana White’s company building an outdoor production around lighting, broadcast sightlines, security, and the White House backdrop.
The card remains one of UFC’s biggest promotional swings of the year. Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje have been central to the build, with Topuria recently drawing attention for his neurostimulation routine before the title fight and Gaethje pushing his usual pressure-heavy message.
Outdoor fight cards come with obvious issues. Weather, heat, bugs, lighting, crowd movement, and security all matter more outside than they do in a controlled arena. That is why Rogan’s criticism became part of the conversation before the card even arrived.
Trump’s clip does not confirm the setup will remain after June 14. It does confirm that he is embracing the spectacle around UFC Freedom 250 while construction continues on the South Lawn.
