The White House is set to host a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, coinciding with former President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and supposedly celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary. However, not everyone is convinced that this mixed martial arts spectacle belongs on such a hallowed lawn – including former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
In an interview published on Saturday, Ms Greene expressed her reservations about the event's suitability for the White House, arguing that it may be deemed unsuitable by many and questioning the use of public funds. "I don't really think they belong on the White House lawn," she said, adding, "And I don't think Americans' taxpayer dollars should have to be paying for that. We have a lot of other important things that we should pay for." Despite her criticisms, Ms Greene extended well wishes to Mr Trump and expressed hope for a successful event.
The idea for the UFC event originated with Mr Trump, according to Dana White, the CEO of UFC. This is not the first time Ms Greene has publicly disagreed with the former President; previously, she had questioned the government's handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, even labelling lawmakers who failed to release more documents as "traitors" earlier this week.
A recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos found that only 16% of Americans consider the event to be appropriate, and a non-profit organisation, the Public Integrity Project, has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the fight from occurring. However, a federal judge ruled on Friday that the event could proceed as planned.
This development highlights the ongoing cultural and political divisions in the US, with differing views on presidential conduct and the use of national landmarks. The decision to host such an event at the White House has sparked controversy, underscoring the complex issues at play in American politics today.