In a video posted to his official TikTok account on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump suggested he may never remove the enormous UFC arena being constructed on the White House lawn for his birthday celebrations. He also compared it to Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower, which was initially intended to be temporary but ultimately remained standing. However, Trump's account of the tower's history is not entirely accurate.
"People don't know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower, in 1889, it was built. It was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World's Fair, and then they said, 'leave it up a little bit longer,' and then they said, 'let's leave it up longer and longer and longer,'" he said.
His description is not quite correct. While the Eiffel Tower was commissioned as a temporary structure for the 1889 Paris Exposition, it was not intended to be dismantled "immediately after" the event. Gustave Eiffel was granted a 20-year concession for the tower, which was later preserved because of its value for scientific research and radio telegraphy.
For roughly a week, the massive open-air metal structure — larger than the White House itself — has been taking shape on the South Lawn ahead of "UFC FREEDOM 250." The event is scheduled for June 14, Trump's 80th birthday, although it is also intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Trump has frequently attended UFC events in recent years and has maintained a long-standing friendship with UFC CEO Dana White. It remains unclear whether he was serious about keeping the structure permanently or whether the remarks were intended to provoke critics online — a tactic often associated with his political messaging.
Many social media users reacted negatively, arguing that Trump was "ruining" a historic and iconic American landmark. Others noted that he signed the "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again" executive order last year, aimed at promoting classical architecture in federal buildings. Some critics also expressed frustration that attention was being devoted to the UFC arena rather than issues such as healthcare costs, energy prices, and campaign promises.
A permanent UFC arena would be only the latest example of Trump's efforts to leave his mark on the White House. Other projects include his controversial 90,000-square-foot ballroom proposal, renovations to the Rose Garden lawn, and the increasing use of gold decorative elements in the Oval Office.
Vedika Bahl looks at Trump's latest video, the reactions, and his other White House alterations in Truth or Fake.
