- United States
- Ariz.
- Letter
A $60 million UFC arena does not belong on the White House lawn, and it certainly should not become permanent. The suggestion that "The Claw" — an 87-foot temporary fight structure — could stay on the South Lawn is an affront to one of the most historically significant public spaces in the country. Architectural historians and preservation experts have already raised alarms, and they're right.
The White House grounds are not a venue for a private entertainment brand. This is the same administration that drew criticism for altering the Rose Garden and East Wing. Making a UFC arena permanent would be a far more damaging precedent. UFC Freedom is a birthday party for the President, not a diplomatic event, not a public celebration — and the American people deserve better than having their most iconic national landmark treated like a sports complex. Block this permanently.