Trump confirms UFC White House construction will begin ‘next week’ for historic fight night on South Lawn
President Donald Trump has officially confirmed that construction of a massive UFC arena, dubbed ‘The Claw,’ is set to begin on the White House grounds next week.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the President revealed that the temporary structure is being prepared for the historic Freedom 250 event scheduled for June 14.
The fight night serves as a centerpiece for the America 250 celebrations, marking the anniversary of United States independence on the same day Trump turns 80.
‘We’re going to have some of the greatest champions in the world,’ Trump said.
‘The arena, they’re going to start building it over the next week. It’s right here, and it will be about 5,000 seats. They’ll have 100,000 people down by the Ellipse, with screens. And it’s all free. It’s going to be great.’
The massive project, which is reportedly costing the UFC roughly $60 million, features a custom-built stage currently being manufactured in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump confirmed that construction for the UFC White House event will start next week
The UFC is putting on ‘UFC Freedom 250’ on the White House South Lawn on June 14
The card is headlined by a lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, alongside a heavyweight clash between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime ally of the President, has promised that the event will be the ‘biggest in the history of the sport’.
Meanwhile, it recently emerged that the UFC’s White House fight night will be given a similar level of security to the Super Bowl.
TMZ reports that the show has been given a Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR), which is typically reserved for the Super Bowl and major marathons.
Security services will be tasked with keeping fighters and fans – which will include Donald Trump – safe at a time of heightened international tension given the conflict in the Middle East.
Trump attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February 2025, prompting an exhaustive security operation that involved the secret service, drones and rooftop snipers.
Other huge sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500 and Kentucky Derby are typically given a lower rating of SEAR 2, TMZ reports, while the Masters at Augusta is a level 3 event.
The event will be held on the south lawn of the White House, with extra seating on The Ellipse
UFC chief Dana White and Trump have built a strong bond across recent years
SEAR ratings are determined, according to the Department of Homeland Security, based on ‘the threat, vulnerability, and consequences for each event.’
Level 1 security is given to ‘significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support.’
For all SEAR 1 events, the government appoints a ‘Federal Coordination Team’ to ‘support local officials and assist them in accessing capabilities that are otherwise unavailable to them.’
These have included ‘explosive detection canine teams’ and ‘air security and tactical operations support.’
UFC Freedom 250 has divided sports fans, with some expressing concern over the fight card and possible safety issues. Trump last month responded to the backlash, insisting the event will be ‘amazing’ while praising the hard work of UFC chief White.
