Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a fierce Trump loyalist who later broke with the president, has come out against his plan to host a UFC event on the White House lawn this weekend, calling the venue inappropriate and questioning whether taxpayer dollars should foot the bill.
In an interview with NewsNation published Saturday, the former Georgia congresswoman acknowledged her enjoyment of mixed martial arts but drew a line at hosting seven fights on the White House grounds during what the administration is billing as a celebration of America's 250th anniversary. The event coincides with Trump's 80th birthday on Sunday.
"I think UFC fights are great. I enjoy watching them, but to be honest with you, I don't really think they belong on the White House lawn," Greene said. "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 criticism, Greene softened her stance by wishing the president well and expressing hope that the event would be a success. UFC CEO Dana White has said the fight card was Trump's idea.
Greene resigned from Congress in January after a public fallout with Trump. The far-right Republican, who had been one of the president's most vocal congressional supporters, had previously criticized the administration's handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. She continued pressing the issue this week, telling CNN that lawmakers refusing to release more Epstein files are "traitors."
The weekend event has faced legal challenges. Attorneys with the Public Integrity Project, a nonprofit organization, filed suit to block the UFC fights, but a federal judge ruled Friday that the event could proceed. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released earlier this month found that only 16 percent of Americans viewed the event as appropriate.
Author James Rodriguez: "Greene's complaint rings hollow when she can't even commit to her own position, but the bigger point stands: using the White House lawn as a UFC venue on the taxpayer dime is the kind of spectacle that defines this presidency."
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