UFC arena under construction on White House lawn for Donald Trump's 80th Birthday

A UFC arena is being constructed on the south lawn of the White House in preparation to hold a cage match next month to mark US President Donald Trump's birthday on June 14.

It will also be used on the US's 250th anniversary, also known as its semiquincentennial, commemorating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

"We're having a big fight," said Trump at an event in the Oval Office earlier this month.

"It's never going to happen again, never happened before".

According to the US President, 4,500 people will be able to watch on the lawn itself, with up to 100,000 people able to watch on screens outside the White House grounds.

Trump first floated the idea of hosting a UFC fight on the White House grounds last year during an appearance in Idaho.

"Think of this on the grounds of the White House," he said.

"We have a lot of land there", he added that it would have "eight to nine fights" with 20-25,000 people in attendance. Fighters Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will top the bill of six fights in a lightweight championship clash, the UFC announced in March.

UFC's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said in February that the fight will cost at least $60 million to stage, with hopes of recouping half of that in corporate sponsorships.

"You can make anything political if you want to," said UFC boss Dana White, who endorsed Trump in the 2024  Presidential election, denying the event is political and defending the expenditure. The event comes at a time when the United States is currently at war with Iran, which has caused fuel prices to soar for Americans.

 Democrats have criticised the construction of the arena. 

"You're paying more for groceries," said California Democrat Jared Huffman online.

"More for gas. More for healthcare. All while Trump is spending your money on a gaudy 250-foot arch by Arlington Cemetery, a UFC cage on the South Lawn, and tearing down the East Wing to build his ballroom. This needs to stop".

The UFC stage is the latest change Trump has made to the White House. He has already paved over the Rose Garden, established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Wilson. As well as demolishing the East Wing to build a $400 million ballroom.