Key Background
The concept of leaving the arena on the White House lawn is the latest idea to significantly modify “The People’s House” and other historic D.C. landmarks, many of which are already coming to fruition to the frustration of local historians. Construction is underway on a project that will build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House that involves tearing down the East Wing. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop construction, arguing the Trump administration ignored legal requirements to have such large changes reviewed, and the Society of Architectural Historians said the project threatens the historic integrity of the White House. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts said it received a record 2,000 public comments about the proposal—99% of which were critical. Trump completely replaced the iconic grass lawn of the White House Rose Garden, first built by First Lady Ellen Wilson in 1913, with stone paving to create a patio space. In April, Trump announced a renovation to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool that has anchored the Washington D.C. Mall for more than 100 years. He said he plans to coat the granite structure in a commercial-grade pool liner in a color called “American Flag Blue.” Historic preservation experts have questioned the aesthetic choice: “The reflecting pool is hallowed ground,” Charles Birnbaum, former coordinator of the National Park Service’s Historic Landscape Initiative, told Politico. “It shouldn’t resemble a swimming pool.” Trump has also said he’ll build a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary and proposed the repainting of the National World War II Memorial fountain basin.
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Big Number
$10 billion. That’s the size of a fund Trump in April suggested be established for Washington D.C. beautification projects. Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees the Park Service’s budget, has said he’s “a ‘hell no’ on giving Trump a blank check for vanity projects.”
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What To Watch For
The arena will be used for “UFC Freedom 250,” a series of mixed martial arts fights on the White House lawn that falls on Trump’s 80th birthday—June 14. There are 4,300 seats for invited guests on the White House lawn and another 75,000 to 100,000 people will watch the fights on giant screens at the nearby Ellipse Park. UFC has said it plans to spend $700,000 to repair the grass that will be damaged on the South Lawn after the arena is removed.
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Further Reading
ForbesU.S. Troops Invited To White House UFC Fight—If They Look Good EnoughBy Mary Whitfill RoeloffsForbesSenate Delays Funding Trump’s Ballroom, Will Break Until JuneBy Sara DornForbesBizarre String Of Trump Posts Includes Photo Swimming Shirtless In D.C. Reflecting PoolBy Mary Whitfill Roeloffs