A temporary mixed martial arts arena has been constructed on the South Lawn of the White House, senior administration officials have confirmed, as preparations intensify for a high-profile UFC event featuring President Donald Trump. The spectacle, scheduled for next weekend, has drawn sharp questions from British lawmakers over the adequacy of security protocols for a sitting head of state.
According to documents obtained by this correspondent, the installation includes a regulation-size octagon, seating for 2,000 guests, and lighting rigs. White House grounds staff have been working around the clock since Tuesday. The event is being billed as a “celebration of American strength and resilience” by Trump allies, but critics argue it blurs the line between governance and entertainment.
Across the Atlantic, members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee have written to the US Ambassador in London seeking assurances that British citizens and diplomatic personnel will not be placed at risk. “We must be absolutely certain that the security perimeter is impenetrable,” said Sir James Thornton, the committee’s chair. “The proximity of such a large gathering to the nerve centre of American power is unprecedented in modern history.”
No US president has previously hosted a professional combat sports event on White House grounds. The Secret Service has declined to comment on specific security arrangements, citing operational sensitivity. However, a spokesperson stated that “all necessary measures are being taken to protect the President, his guests, and the integrity of the White House complex.”
The UFC, which has enjoyed a close relationship with Trump since the 1990s, has confirmed that the main event will feature a welterweight championship bout. Trump is expected to attend and may address the crowd between rounds. The decision to hold the event at the White House, rather than a traditional arena, has been interpreted by political analysts as a deliberate symbol of Trump’s anti-establishment brand.
Downing Street has declined to comment on the event, but a senior Foreign Office official said that “standard diplomatic liaison channels are active.” The UK’s own security protocols for head-of-state engagements have been questioned in the past, most notably during the 2018 visit of Trump to the UK, when protests and heavy policing drew criticism from human rights groups.
For now, the White House press corps has been given minimal access to the construction site. Pool photographs released on Wednesday show the octagon frame partially assembled against a backdrop of the West Wing. The juxtaposition of hard-nosed security with the spectacle of combat sports has unsettled some career intelligence officials, who fear that the event could set a dangerous precedent.
“The White House is not a stadium,” said retired CIA officer Michael Fenwick. “Every VIP event on these grounds is a potential target. This one is particularly high-risk because of the noise, the crowds, and the media glare.”
The UK parliamentary inquiry into the event is expected to publish its preliminary findings next week. Meanwhile, security fencing has been reinforced around the White House perimeter, and additional counter-drone systems have been deployed. The fight is scheduled to proceed as planned, barring any last-minute intervention from the courts or Congress.
