President Trump's plan to celebrate his 80th birthday with a UFC event on the White House South Lawn is drawing rare criticism from a fellow Republican. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told NewsNation that while she enjoys mixed-martial arts, the White House is the wrong venue for such a spectacle.
"I think UFC fights are great. I enjoy watching them, but to be honest with you, I don't really think they belong on the White House lawn," Greene said in an interview set to air Saturday. She also questioned the use of taxpayer money, adding, "And I don't think Americans' taxpayer dollars should have to be paying for that. We have a lot of other important things that we should pay for."
The event, scheduled for Sunday as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, features six prime-time fights in a 92-foot-tall Octagon-shaped ring. Federal agencies and the UFC have spent upwards of $60 million on preparations, according to the Justice Department, which describes it as "one of the most highly anticipated" events of the summer. More than 4,000 spectators are expected on the South Lawn, with an additional 120,000 watching from screens at the nearby Ellipse.
Despite the fanfare, the event has sparked controversy over its political undertones and corporate branding. A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found only 16% of Americans deemed it appropriate for Trump to hold the UFC fight at the White House, while 46% opposed it. A federal judge on Friday rejected a lawsuit from two Virginia residents who argued the event was "deeply corrupt," ruling they lacked legal standing.
In a related development, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore removed national park displays, highlighting ongoing tensions over executive actions. Meanwhile, the UFC's parent company, TKO, told The Hollywood Reporter it would "not be making money on America's 250th anniversary." UFC President Dana White and Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding this week, formalizing a public-private partnership between the administration and the organization.
Greene, while critical, tempered her remarks with a note of goodwill. "However, I do hope it's a great event, and of course I always wish the President well, I wish everyone well, so we'll see how the event unrolls," she said. The event proceeds amid broader debates over national celebrations, as explored in a piece on whether Americans can still share national pride.
The controversy also echoes other administration moves, such as the D.C. Circuit's rejection of a bid to halt Kennedy Center name removal, signaling a pattern of legal battles over symbolic gestures. As the UFC event approaches, it remains a flashpoint for questions about propriety, spending, and the blending of politics with entertainment.
