YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: Trump says 4,500-seat arena will be built for UFC fight at White House

[Miles Archer]

Trump says 4,500-seat arena will be built for UFC fight at White House

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-says-4-500-seat-174323457.html

“I’ve been involved in a lot of big events, I have never had an event that has had more interest than the UFC fight we have right at the front door,” Trump told reporters gathered outside the Oval Office on Monday.

“Right there,” the president said, pointing to the South Lawn, “they’re going to start building a 4,500 seat arena.”

“And then in the back at the Ellipse, we’re going to have 100,000, maybe 50 [50,000] to 100,000 people, I guess,” he continued. “They’re building tremendous stages, and we’re going to have massive screens of the fight. It’s a very popular sport.”

UFC, headed by Trump ally Dana White, in March announced its full card of bouts for “UFC Freedom 250,” an event timed to coincide with President Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14.

[Amethyst Ring]

1. In a month?

Dude is lost in his edifice complex with no exit.

[Srkdqltr]

2. Has building begun. ?? Good grief.

[MustLoveBeagles]

3. Building the monstosites he wants to build

Takes time. Except for the ballroom, has he broke ground for any of it?

[Miles Archer]

4. Not that I've heard

He keeps bragging about how bigly yuge it's going to be and how America has been begging for it every day for the last 200 years but other than that all he seems to have done is demolish the East Wing.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. No way all that gets done in time

[Initech]

5. Yeah didn't he say 100,000 at one point?

[Miles Archer]

6. He mentions 100,000 in the content I posted, but who the hell knows what he's doing

He started a war and he's been golfing, planning his "arch," and planning this.

And Republicans keep kissing his ass for his "bold and decisive leadership."

[Igel]

9. From the OP, 7 lines below the headline (at least on my screen)

https://sportsnaut.com/ufc/ufc-white-house-card-arena-construction-cost

“And then in the back at the Ellipse, we’re going to have 100,000, maybe 50 [50,000] to 100,000 people, I guess,” he continued. “They’re building tremendous stages, and we’re going to have massive screens of the fight. It’s a very popular sport.”

So, that's a definite maybe.

[Initech]

14. He is so fucking delusional!

[Norbert]

7. There goes the West Wing.

[flvegan]

8. White also said he's giving away 85,000 tickets.

I heard the most recent events didn't sell that well. Don't want to see empty seats at The Brawndo Sportatorium now do we.

[EarthFirst]

12. Brawndo Sportatorium...

I might just have to pass that along…

[Greg_In_SF]

31. Ummm....

UFC 326 marked the highest linear TV viewership for the organization in a decade, averaging 2.47 million viewers on CBS. Additionally, UFC's first fight card on Paramount+ averaged nearly 5 million views, making it the largest exclusive live event on that platform since its launch.

[Initech]

49. Well, apparently the news says otherwise:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mma-decline-weak-ticket-sales-160645609.html

https://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/ufc_327_reportedly_had_thousands_of_unsold_tickets_despite_strong_card/s1_17664_43727028

https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-tickets/436627/ufc-327-returns-worst-ever-miami-gate-in-modern-mma-era-fans-were-outpriced

[Greg_In_SF]

51. You appear to be

confusing ticket sales with overall revenue. Just so we are clear, ticket sales are only one way the UFC makes money: Pay-per-view (PPV) sales, Media rights deals, Ticket sales, Merchandise sales, and Licensing.

[BannonsLiver]

50. Found the UFC fan.

[Greg_In_SF]

52. If it's on ESPN

or network TV, I'll absolutely watch! I don't pay to watch though, neither through Pay-per-view or a Paramount+ subscription.

And, yes, I was similarly excited when President Obama hosted a martial arts exhibition on White House grounds.

[Igel]

10. Depends if it's our tax dollars paying for it.

Not everything is funded by the government; not every news story is telling the truth (some because of intentional deceit, some because of accidental deceit--"Dewey Wins " ).

https://sportsnaut.com/ufc/ufc-white-house-card-arena-construction-cost

[blm]

13. Idiocracy was supposed to be just a movie.

[MustLoveBeagles]

16. Sometimes fiction becomes reality

[spanone]

17. He's an interstellar embarrassment to any living organism.

FUCK HIM AND HIS FAKE SHIT.

[Greg_In_SF]

18. It is NOT

being done with taxpayer money.

[fujiyamasan]

20. lol sure you go ahead and believe that

Either way, it’s on taxpayer property.

But whatever you stick to your narrative.

[obamanut2012]

27. How in the hell is taxpayer's money not being used?

YOU show US a source that says not one cent fo our money is going to fund and run this event. Go ahead.

[Greg_In_SF]

41. LOL! Okay, how many links would you like?

https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/combat_sports/mma/articles/the-multimillion-dollar-cost-of-bringing-a-ufc-event-to-the-white-house-2026-03-02

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dana-white-addresses-20-million-063748115.html

https://www.fightsports.tv/dana-white-taxpayers-wont-pay-for-ufc-white-house-event/

https://www.lowkickmma.com/dana-white-confirms-ufc-will-cover-full-cost-of-white-house-card-without-taxpayer-funds/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mma_ufc/dana-white-explains-how-ufc-white-house-won-t-ask-donald-trump-to-use-taxpayer-money-for-event/ar-AA1V8U8I

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/01/26/white-ufc-to-pay-for-entire-white-house-card-no-taxpayer-funds-being-sought/

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2026/02/25/tko-mark-shapiro-ufc-white-house-financial-cost-no-profit/88869639007/

[MorbidButterflyTat]

62. Every link cites the same source

Piggy's BFF Dana White.

[Greg_In_SF]

63. He's the one footing

the bill for the entire event. Who else would be qualified to speak about this?

No one else has been able to thus far, but maybe you can provide links from reputable news sources confirming that taxpayer dollars will be used for the event. Can you do that for all of us? Much appreciated!

[Greg_In_SF]

61. Now it's your turn

Now YOU show US all the legitimate news sources that are claiming that this event is taxpayer funded.

I'll be waiting with baited breathe!

[Greg_In_SF]

23. I'm still

waiting. Will you be requiring a full 24 hours to find a single news source that backs up your claim?

[Lochloosa]

28. Wow. So they are paying for the increased security this will require?

Are there charging for parking on PUBLIC land to cover the cost?

Your being a little disingenuous to claim taxpayers money will not be used.

[Ocelot II]

37. Why are you so defensive about this issue?

[Greg_In_SF]

40. Simple

The title of post is false. Do you not prefer factual information?

[Ocelot II]

42. What's your source for the contrary statement?

If it's Trump's own mouth, well, QED....

[Greg_In_SF]

45. You mean aside

from the seven links I posted right here is this thread??

[Ocelot II]

46. Ipse dixit, right?

[Greg_In_SF]

48. You are absolutely right!

The claim that tax payer money is being used for this even is indeed an unsupported assertion.

[Happy Hoosier]

44. I am not at all convinced it is false.

Last edited Wed Apr 15, 2026, 11:55 AM - Edit history (1)

Trump has a long history of lying about such things. You'd have to be pretty naive to think there are no tac dollars making their way into this, IMO. And it's kinda weird how hard you're pushing here.

[Greg_In_SF]

47. You're surprised

that someone is pushing for factual information? Interesting.

[obamanut2012]

26. Of course it is

[Walleye]

29. It's bribery, and we all know that

Do we even have a constitution anymore?

[Ocelot II]

32. In other words, it's being built with bribes.

Using taxpayer money would obviously be bad, and anyhow you can be sure government funds will be used for ancillary expenses for this fiasco - electricity, landscaping, traffic control, etc. And there's a reason why government structures aren't supposed to be privately funded, which is because "generous" private funders of government structures will expect something in return. It's bribery, pure and simple.

[fujiyamasan]

19. Yikes I wouldn't want to sit in that hastily arranged shit box

It’s tasteless and typical of everything surrounding this administration.

[Wiz Imp]

21. There's no way they are building any arena at the White House

They'll presumably erect temporary stands and seating, which is in no way remotely close to the same (to any sane human being) as "building a 4500 seat arena".

[Autumn]

24. Is the silly fucker tearing down the white house to build his "stadium"?

[eShirl]

25. hmmm, how safe is the West Wing?

ballroom on one side, wrestling ring on the other

[walkingman]

30. Who watches that shit? The same folks that watch wrestling, cockfights? Just asking.

[Ocelot II]

35. Tractor pulls, mud wrestling, eating contests, the usual events at county fairs in Dumbfuckistan.

[magicarpet]

38. Blood lust porn for the violent meatheads among us.

[Bettie]

59. I think you're correct

but I have never understood why people want to watch anyone get beaten half to death.

I'm not a sports person overall, but at least with the "ball" sports there's a purpose other than watching someone bleed or be seriously injured.

I've never really understood it, but I've also never wanted to see anyone get hurt, much less pay to see it.

[magicarpet]

33. Oh boy,... A Roman Coliseum right on the White House lawn.

Gladiators, lions, daggers, swords, blood, guts, beheadings, - Bread & Circuses galore. USA,... USA,... USA,... our blood lust in insatiable. Let there be puddles of blood everywhere. Let's splat blood on the White House to show the world how macho and tough we are.

Thank you America for this barbaric presi-DUNCE and this electoral nightmare.

[Ocelot II]

36. I'm all for lions if they're allowed to eat the wrestlers afterwards.

[magicarpet]

39. Well here is a decisive thumbs down wave from this spectator.

Off with their heads.

[Doodley]

34. Good for Trump! Keep doing things that are going to put Democrats back in control.

[Johonny]

43. Too bad DC doesnt have any stadiums or arenas

LOL. Trump has single handily ended my interest in UFC. Much like Musk and Twitter, I've quickly adapted to not giving a shit about it.

[BannonsLiver]

53. UFC is super lowbrow, and barbaric.

I won’t call it a white trash sport, but most of the people who watch it know exactly how much Sudafed you can legally buy at a drug store.

[Ocelot II]

54. If you want to attract vermin you offer garbage.

[Bettie]

60. I'll admit it

I laughed out loud at the Sudafed comment.

[GenThePerservering]

55. No, taxpayers are not paying for the event. Yes, it's a bribe.

[get the red out]

56. there goes social security

He is going to use other programs to pay to kill Iranians and ruin the economy.

[vapor2]

58. Past time to leave the country

[Attilatheblond]

57. Heard the degenerating degenerate talking this June 14 event up at that match he went to while JD was being ignored

but he is leaving out the bit about it being held on his birthday. Guess he got so much flack about his 'military parade' last term that he is not admitting this is a taxpayer funded party for himself. And taxpayers will be picking up the tab for security and repairs to the grounds after this farce.

He is such a dolt, he thinks national TV viewership will translate into that many people from all over the nation spending their money to travel to D.C., sit in questionably built bleachers on the White House lawn? Where are they all gonna park? Will the White House be trashed like in Jackson's day?

Choreographed 'wrestling' is not a big a thing as he thinks it is. Is he expecting them all to bring presents too? Is he planning to feel up the contestants and tell them how handsome they are again? It's his party & it's likely he'll cry if he wants to.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

64. Um...

Weren't those the people who just booed him mercilously? 🤪

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

65. How can I get free tickets, and how many can I have?

I'd like to be able to point at ten empty seats and say "I did that".

[lame54]

66. Birthday parade failed...

This should be fun

[eppur_se_muova]

67. White trash "culture" in the White House -- the perfect expression of Trumpism. nt

[Kingofalldems]

68. I see one of Trump's little pals showed up in the thread.