White Trash at the White House

“There’s nothing like white trash at the White House” 

—Dolly Parton

To mark the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Donald Trump has announced that he will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage match  of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) wrestling at the White House. Yes, you heard that correctly. The same people who spent $30M of your money to put on that North Korean style military parade on Flag Day are now planning to observe the birth of our nation by bringing this “sport” — which John McCain once called “human cockfighting” — to the lawn of the People’s House on next year’s 4th of July.  

Of course, the country’s 250th birthday is a big deal so rest assured that the cage match is not the only chance you have to celebrate. Trump said on the 4th of July this year, “Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250.” A cage match on the White House lawn, with upwards of 20,000 cheering and jeering crowds, seems just as special an event, no?

But wait, with everything else that’s going on, you might ask: Why does this matter? After all, many Trump voters are probably UFC fans. Color us crazy but we believe that the dignity of the White House should be protected. And if you’re an independent or otherwise wary of taking talking points from Democrats, how do you feel about Nancy Reagan? She once said, “The White House belongs to all Americans. It’s supposed to be something we’re proud of.” 

The Trump administration is certainly not making us proud of the home our presidents have lived and worked in for over 200 years.

The White House is a powerful symbol of democracy and hope. Unlike many other countries, including the United Kingdom, our leaders don’t reside in palaces that remain in their family for generations. Instead, this home is only borrowed by the current, democratically elected president who “pays rent” by adhering to the oath of office:

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully … to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The White House belongs to all of us. It should remain a dignified place where the president conducts the important businesses of the country — like meeting with foreign leaders and signing legislation — not do double duty as the site of a UFC wrestling match.

Let’s compare this sure-to-be trashy event with those held in honor of our nation’s bicentennial in 1976. Queen Elizabeth II visited Washington DC, where President Gerald Ford held a state dinner in her honor. On July 4 itself, a parade wound through the nation’s capital that managed to wow the crowd of half a million spectators without military tanks. 

That evening an elaborate (and loud) fireworks show lit up the skies above the Washington Monument. People crowded the Ellipse for hours before the show so they could have the best view, while President Ford watched from the White House lawn with his wife and his invited guests, the White House staff.

While people throughout the nation sold bicentennial merchandise, none of those profits went directly into the pockets of President Ford or his friends. Because before Trump, US presidents did not seek to monetize the presidency. This semiquincentennial cage fight is sure to be a cash cow for the Trump family. In case you’ve been missing Trump’s ineffective first-term advisor (and daughter) Ivanka Trump, she will be back in DC to plan this epic celebration of the values that will “Make America Great Again” while making herself a pile of money. And that online Trump Store which sells all kinds of Trump merchandise, will they be selling memorial coins and drinking glasses emblazoned with an image similar to this one?

Whatever hideous merchandise shows up in that store closer to July 4, 2026, one thing is certain: the profits from those sales go directly to the Trump Organization, not to our government. 

Here are some actions you can take to protest the trashing of the White House and the presidency:

• Don’t watch, especially if it is aired on pay-per-view.

• Contact your senators and congresspersons to let them know you are a voter who disagrees with the White House being used this way.

• Blast Trump on social media.