Donald Trump weighs keeping 'attractive' UFC Freedom 250 octagon on White House's south lawn after fights

President Donald Trump has hinted at permanently keeping the controversial UFC octagon being built on the White House lawn for an upcoming MMA event – going so far as to compare the structure to the Eiffel Tower.

Trump had long considered staging an event in the top-level fighting promotion at the White House in conjunction with the United States’ 250th anniversary. Now, that event is just days away.

But after the crowds disperse from this event, the President doesn’t seem too keen to start dismantling the infrastructure just yet.

In a video posted to TikTok, Trump called the structure ‘attractive’ before comparing it to the iconic Paris landmark. 

Trump said, ‘People 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 compared the structure to the Eiffel Tower and hinted that he might not take it down

The White House will host a fight for Dana White’s MMA promotion on June 14

‘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 14th. And I’m looking at it and maybe we’ll never, ever take it down.’

Trump’s notion of keeping the octagon up and active comes at a time where there have been multiple legal challenges to his demolition of the East Wing of the White House in order to build a large ballroom.

Courts have ruled that the President doesn’t have the legal authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval. However, appeals have allowed construction to continue.

The UFC fight, dubbed ‘UFC Freedom 250’, is scheduled to feature a pair of championship bouts.

Alex Pereira is set to fight Cyril Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight title. If Pereira wins, he’d be the first fighter in UFC history to win belts in three divisions.

But the main event of the evening is a fight to unify the UFC Lightweight Championships – currently held by Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje.