Why Trump brought UFC 'savagery' to the White House
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Donald Trump has compared it to the Eiffel Tower and he's pondering whether a UFC fighting cage could become a permanent fixture on the South Lawn at the White House after a fight takes place there on his 80th birthday. Today, Sally Jenkins from The Atlantic magazine on Trump's deep links to the UFC that continue to shape his politics and why we should all be deeply concerned by it. I'm Sam Hawley on Gadigal land in Sydney. This is ABC News Daily.
Sally, on the White House lawn right now, a huge octagonal structure is being erected for cage fighting. And normally you'd think if someone said that it would have been a joke of some sort. But, well, not in Trump's world, right?
Oh, no. I mean, this is classic, you know, despoiling of norms. The previously unthinkable has become the order of the day.
Yeah, OK, so the cage, which will have a star-spangled arch over it, it's sitting on the south lawn with a UFC fight to take place on Donald Trump's 80th birthday, which is on June the 14th, which happens, Sally, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. I mean, you really couldn't make this stuff up.
You know, it's so peculiar because there's a real undercurrent in this administration of trying to sort of redefine American manhood. One of the things I've said is that Trump specializes in stolen valor. You know, he didn't serve and yet he'll call generals incompetence and incompetence. you know, he sort of seems to reserve the right to define what strength is and what manhood is. He has said that NFL football is becoming sissy. He loves fender bending stock car races. I mean, there's a real vein of exaltation in physical violence and physical bullying in this administration. And it's It's not subtle.
Let's put it that way. He says that the tickets for this fight are in huge demand.
I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets. It's a one of a kind UFC.
And my gosh, the Pentagon is even selecting U.S. soldiers to make an appearance. But not fat ones.
They can't be fat. Fit ones.
They can't be tubby. They must be fit, they must appear in their uniform, but they must also pay their own way.
Well, it's pretty ironic because the latest medical report on the president is that he's gained about 14 pounds in the last few months, so...
Sally, let's turn to the politics of this then and just consider that more deeply. Now, I'm guessing just before we move on that most people have a vision of what this sport is, but perhaps you could just give me a quick reminder of what you're watching.
What is Trump's connection to the UFC and its significance?
You're watching crotch kicking, bare-knuckled brawling, anything goes, you know, squeezing the throat of an opponent. So Ultimate Fighting, it combines like jiu-jitsu, boxing, muay thai, wrestling, grappling, martial arts, Over the years, they've imposed some sorts of rules. You can't literally go for a guy's eyeballs. But short of that, pretty much anything else goes. I mean, it's a very bloodthirsty, very kind of brutal, primal exercise.
And the UFC's president, Dana White, he and Donald Trump have a very close relationship, don't they?
They go way, way back. I mean, I think without Donald Trump, Dana White would not have built his business. Again, Donald Trump was the first guy to offer large venues publicly. for these sorts of matches. They have a long history as business partners and enablers.
And in recent weeks, Donald Trump has even hosted UFC fighters in the Oval Office.
It's going to be June 14th, and it's going to be great.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–4:02
2
What is Trump's connection to the UFC and its significance?
4:02–9:43
3
How is the UFC fight on the White House lawn a reflection of Trump's political style?
9:43–11:11
4
What does Trump's approach to masculinity and violence reveal about his political ideology?
11:11–15:33