Plans to host a UFC event on the White House grounds have triggered political backlash, after reports emerged that an octagon-style cage is being constructed on the South Lawn as part of upcoming national celebrations. The event is expected to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

According to planning details, the temporary structure will feature a full-scale UFC arena setup, including a wire-mesh octagon, a red, white and blue stage design, and large screens for live viewing. The seating arrangement is expected to accommodate thousands of spectators, with additional viewing areas reportedly planned nearby to handle overflow crowds for the high-profile bout.

The event is expected to include major UFC matchups, including a heavyweight contest between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane, alongside a lightweight title fight featuring Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Organisers have described the initiative as part of broader national celebrations marking the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

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However, the project has drawn criticism online, with detractors questioning both the optics and scale of the plans. Concerns have also been raised about the broader renovation agenda underway at the White House complex, which includes multiple structural and aesthetic changes across key areas of the presidential residence and surrounding grounds.

Beyond the UFC setup, reports indicate additional modifications under consideration, including landscaping changes to the Rose Garden, new installations along the White House colonnade, upgrades to internal rooms, and proposed structural additions near nearby national monuments. Supporters argue the changes are part of commemorative and infrastructure enhancement efforts, while critics view them as an unusual expansion of executive-driven redesigns of historic federal spaces.

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