'Maybe we'll never, ever take it down': Trump compares White House UFC arena to Eiffel Tower

President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that the structure being erected on the White House South Lawn for the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled on his 80th birthday, June 14, may never be taken down. The U.S. President cited the history of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, stating that it was first erected as a temporary structure that was eventually never taken down. He compared the iconic tower to the structure for the UFC event, calling the latter "quite attractive."

"Many don't know...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.' Well, they never took it down," Trump said in a video message posted from the Oval Office. "And, you know, we're building something in front of the White House that's quite attractive to a lot of people. It's gonna have the big UFC fight on June 14th. And I'm looking at it, and maybe we'll never, ever take it down," he added. 

Trump turning White House into his 'personal playground', say Democrats

Democrats have criticized the upcoming event, citing current problems being faced by Americans, particularly with rising inflation and gas prices. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on X that the President was more interested in a UFC event over "infrastructure and housing."

"Trump is turning the White House into his personal playground while he does nothing to address rising health care costs, soaring energy bills, or deliver on any of the promises he made to get himself elected," Sen. Mazie Hirono wrote on X after sharing the image of the under-construction UFC arch.

UFC boss Dana White has also raised concerns about the event regarding it being held outdoors, as per a report in The Independent. The event will feature matches involving athletes such as Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, and Alex Pereira. It will have a seating area of 5,000, which will be filled with government officials and U.S. service members. Several large screens have also been installed at Washington’s Ellipse Park nearby for public viewing.

Regardless of the concerns and criticisms, White House officials are bullish about the UFC Freedom 250 event. "This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said.

Meanwhile, Trump critics have also raised questions about the President's stock market activities, linking a recent investment to the upcoming event. As per reports, Trump recently invested upto $50,000 in the shares of UFC's parent company, TKO.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was asked about this during a recent interaction with the press. "I don't think the president sits in the Oval Office and makes individual investment decisions, but I don't know about that issue," he said. "But knowing him, I suspect someone else is making those decisions for him."