Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former Republican congresswoman who once stood firmly behind Donald Trump, has publicly opposed the president’s plan to stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn, saying the location is unsuitable for a mixed martial arts event and questioning why taxpayer money should fund it.
Greene voices objection
“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 told NewsNation in an interview published on Saturday. “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.” Despite her criticism, she added: “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.”
Greene represented Georgia in Congress until she resigned in January. A far-right, QAnon-adjacent Republican, she was a staunch supporter of Trump but fell out publicly with the president after she criticised the government’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. On Wednesday, she told CNN that lawmakers are “traitors” for failing to release more documents on Epstein.
Event details and legal challenge
The UFC bout, officially named “UFC Freedom 250,” is scheduled to take place on Sunday — President Trump’s 80th birthday — although the government has billed it as a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Dana White, the CEO of UFC, has said the event was Trump’s idea. The event is expected to cost around $60 million, with UFC stating they will cover the costs and anticipate a loss of approximately $30 million. UFC executives have indicated that these costs have risen since initial estimates.
The construction of the arena includes a 92-foot-tall steel structure nicknamed “The Claw.” The event is scheduled to stream live on Paramount+, owned by David Ellison, described as one of Trump’s closest allies. Corporate sponsorships have drawn attention, with advertisements for Polymarket and Bud Light visible on the cage, and Dodge and Crypto.com also listed as primary sponsors.
Attorneys from the Public Integrity Project, a non-profit, had filed a lawsuit to stop the UFC fight from taking place, arguing that the event was unlawful and corrupt. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of an activist and a Vietnam War veteran, alleged that Trump’s administration bypassed rules and environmental reviews to use federal parkland for private profit. The plaintiffs also sought to block the construction of “The Claw.” On Friday, a federal judge ruled the event could go ahead, citing the plaintiffs’ “unreasonable delay” in bringing the suit and concluding they likely lacked legal standing. The judge’s decision allowed the show to proceed on the South Lawn.
The White House defended the event, calling the lawsuit a baseless attempt to prevent Trump from hosting an event similar to others held at public forums. They also stated that the administration cannot issue permits for sporting events on the South Lawn or at the Lincoln Memorial, where a press conference was planned. The event is described as a privately organised, for-profit venture, with VIP packages reportedly costing millions of dollars. Public Integrity Project attorney Brendan Ballou said the organisation respects the judge’s decision but intends to continue bringing cases to “raise the cost of corruption in America.”
President Trump has a long history with UFC, dating back to the early 2000s when he hosted events at his Atlantic City casino. Dana White has credited Trump with giving UFC a platform when few others would, and White has spoken at Republican National Conventions on Trump’s behalf. Trump himself has expressed enthusiasm for the event, comparing the arena to the Eiffel Tower and musing about not taking it down. He has reportedly shown guests a booklet of the event and given a tour of the arena.
Separately, the State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UFC to create a public-private partnership aimed at promoting sports diplomacy. This initiative is described as similar to a previous memorandum with the NFL.
Critics have referred to the event as a “blood sport” and a “private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain.” Some have also noted the blurred lines between sports and politics, with UFC broadcasts having previously featured pro-Trump messaging.
Public opinion and controversy
Public opinion on the event appears deeply divided. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that just 16% of Americans considered the event to be appropriate, while 46% found it inappropriate. Among Republicans, only 31% approved of the plan. The controversy has also extended to the treatment of fighters: there are reports that former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been barred from attending the event, with Strickland alleging political retaliation due to his criticisms of President Trump and U.S. foreign policy. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly supported Strickland, accusing the Trump administration of punishing him for his free speech.
