Americans have spoken to GB News about the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage match to be held on the White House’s South Lawn.
President Donald Trump sparked fury in some quarters when announcing a massive mixed martial arts event will be held at the iconic executive residence.
A massive area, built to accommodate 5,000 spectators, is being constructed in front of the White House as part of festivities marking the US’s 250th anniversary.
Mr Trump has promised the show will be the “biggest event” ever held by the UFC, which will be jointly held to mark his 80th birthday.
The plan has been lambasted by US Democrats, including the California Governor and potential Presidential challenger Gavin Newsom, as “disrespectful” and “out of touch”.
To find what normal Americans think, GB News Chief US Correspondent Ben Leo spoke to punters around Washington DC in the shadow of the colossal new arena.
“Am I looking forward to it? I don’t know. I think it’s a lot of hype, a lot of bread and circuses. I’m all for it,” one man said.
Another, with his wife and two children, exclaimed: “I love it!”
A huge UFC arena is being built on the White House South Lawn
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Reflecting on criticism of the plan, Ben said: “They say it’s on sacred government grounds or it’s historic and you’re kind of trivialising it.”
“If this was worst thing our government ever did, that would that would be surprising,” the man said before his wife exclaimed: “Sacred and government don’t go!”
“Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be in the White House when I first heard about it, but I can’t wait for it,” one young man said.
On the notion of the event being disrespectful, he said: “I get why people say that, but it’s also cool.
Ben Leo spoke was average Americans around Washington DC to hear their thoughts
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GB NEWS
“It’s something different. You know, we gotta change it up a bit. You know, we’re a new generation.”
One woman answered plainly: “A lot of people do a lot of things that are disrespectful. What are you going to do?”
Back in the studio, the upcoming fight prompted some debate.
Matt Terrill, former Chief of Staff to Marco Rubio, said: “I do not think it’s disrespectful. If anything, I think it’s just something that’s been really trying to put DC in the United States on full display, which is great.”
One man with his family said he ‘loved’ the idea
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“I think it’s great. A lot of this will be free to the public. It’s not just a UFC fight. You’re going to see Indy car racing around DC.
“This is something that people can take their families to, you know, and just enjoy,” he said.
However, Democratic strategist Mally Smith felt the event was a distraction from more important issues.
“I don’t care about the trivialisation. What I care about is having a President who’s actually focused on making lives better for the American people,” he said.
