Trump says UFC ‘Claw’ cage construction to begin next week at White House
President Donald Trump announced that construction of a UFC arena called 'The Claw' will begin next week on the White House grounds, ahead of a historic UFC event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The event, coinciding with Trump's 80th birthday, will mark the first time a UFC fight is held at the White House and is part of the U.S. semiquincentennial celebrations. While the main arena is being built in Pennsylvania, the fight will take place on the South Lawn, with tens of thousands able to view it via screens on the Ellipse and 85,000 free tickets distributed to the public.
- ▪President Donald Trump announced that construction of the UFC's 'The Claw' arena will begin next week on the White House South Lawn.
- ▪The UFC Freedom 250 fight is scheduled for June 14, 2026, coinciding with Trump's 80th birthday and the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations.
- ▪The main structure of 'The Claw' is being constructed in Lititz, Pennsylvania, though the event will take place on the White House grounds.
- ▪UFC plans to distribute 85,000 free tickets for public viewing on the Ellipse, with large screens set up for the fight.
- ▪UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the organization is spending $60 million on the event and maintains a close relationship with President Trump.
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President Donald Trump announced on Friday that construction of a UFC arena, dubbed “The Claw,” will begin next week on the White House grounds. The platform will host UFC’s historic Freedom 250 fight, scheduled for June 14, the same day Trump turns 80. Recommended Stories Trump rejects Iran peace proposal and says negotiators ‘don’t know who their leaders are’ Trump to raise tariffs on European cars and trucks to 25% Trump talks to retirees in first outing since WHCA dinner shooting “Well, they have some of the greatest champions in the world. The arena, they’re going to start building it over the next week, it’s right here,” Trump told reporters while speaking on the South Lawn. “It’ll be about 5,000 feet. They’ll have 100,000 people down by the Ellipse with screens, and it’s all free.
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