President Donald Trump is set to host a UFC fight in the White House backyard for his birthday, with costs soaring to at least $60 million. This extravagant event is being funded by the UFC and its affiliated organizations.
The event’s organization demands the involvement of seven federal agencies to ensure its success.
The hefty price tag was disclosed by the National Park Service, following a lawsuit from two Virginia residents. They are seeking a federal judge’s intervention to cancel the event, as reported by the Associated Press.
Officially, the UFC match is intended to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday, as part of the Freedom250 initiative. This campaign was launched by Trump through an executive order to oversee certain celebrations.
This initiative is the same one that attempted to organize a concert series on the National Mall alongside the Great American State Fair, which faced widespread cancellations when artists realized it was linked to Trump.
Interestingly, the fight also coincides with Trump’s milestone 80th birthday, adding a personal touch to the occasion.
Last year, when Trump turned 79, the President got his long-sought military parade down Constitution Avenue to mark the Army’s 250th birthday.
The lawsuit, filed Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents, argues that the UFC fight violates a prohibition of sporting events on federal parklands.
Reporters were allowed to tour the UFC stadium that has been built on the White House’s South Lawn for an event that coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday
Bud Light and other sponsors still appeared on the fencing around the Octagon despite the event being held on the White House South Lawn
The group charged that both Trump and UFC CEO Dana White, a close friend and political ally of the President, were financially benefiting from the event.
‘This is a profoundly corrupt scheme to enrich the President and his friends,’ said Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project, in a release.
‘If this fight is allowed to proceed, it will be only the beginning, and our national monuments will become little more than branding opportunities for the rich and well-connected. We plan to stop that,’ Ballou added.
On Thursday morning, reporters were allowed to tour the setup, which included the famed UFC Octagon, where the fighting takes place.
Even at the White House, it was adorned with sponsors – including Bud Light, Polymarket and Pit Boss Grills.
The National Park Service responded to the lawsuit by pushing back on the corruption claim.
The NPS also divulged details about all the preparations that have gone into the fight to encourage a federal judge not to rule in the plaintiffs’ favor.
‘Well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended,’ the document said, according to the AP.
A giant Freedom 250 logo was positioned on the South Lawn directly in front of the UFC stadium. The group was created by President Donald Trump via executive order so he could have some control over how the nation celebrated its 250th birthday
A side of the Octagon, complete with Bud Light branding, is seen with the White House peaking out behind it
Those details didn’t include how much money was being spent by the federal government, but said seven agencies were enlisted, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration, which allocated significant resources and manpower.’
The arena, with a capacity of 4,000, started being constructed on May 20.
The Secret Service was utilized to screen between 20 and 30 trucks of equipment.
Between 700 and 900 workers came to the White House daily to work on the installation.
‘All these hopes could be dashed at the very last moment,’ the NPS’s response read, ‘by the whim of two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else.’
The event will kick off at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, with seven on the White House card, with the main event billed as the fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
