“Human cockfighting.” That’s what Sen. John McCain called MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting in 1996. An apt description. Watching two human beings pound each other into bloody messes is not sport. It’s not art. It’s entertainment only for those who enjoy watching two human beings pound each other into bloody messes.
That speaks to the nature and personality of the spectators. And it doesn’t speak well of them. It’s a caveman sport for troglodytes. For people who like to beat up on other people, or for those who enjoy watching it but don’t want to actually engage in it. Voyeurs.
How unsurprising that a thuggish, unhinged man like Donald Trump loves the “sport.” How extremely unfortunate that he is also the president of the United States. And, leaving the niceties aside, how outrageous that he should promote the “sport” by building himself a massive UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) ring on the lawn of the White House — against all rules, regulations, and customs concerning historic structures, monuments, and protected public land. This in addition to destroying, also without permission, the East Wing of the White House and the Rose Garden in order to erect a grandiose ballroom.
How might that grotesque UFC structure damage the White House lawn? How might the addition of thousands of spectators around the arena and on the Ellipse add to that damage? Oh, no matter. Trump’s not paying for it. The structure, the event, and any resulting damage is — supposedly — being paid for by Trump’s longtime buddy Dana White, CEO of the UFC.
The structure is tasteless and the event barbaric but it’s there for the whole world to see. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS HOW WE CELEBRATE.
Of course it’s not our doing and it’s not how we celebrate. Despite the size, the red-white-and-blue motif, and the upcoming July 4 holiday, it’s not us celebrating our 250th birthday as a nation. It’s a pathetic old man abusing his presidential privilege to celebrate his own 80th birthday on June 14.
Of the arena, the “Claw,” Trump has said, “Maybe we’ll never ever take it down” and instead keep it at the White House, in the same way the Eiffel Tower was kept in Paris.
However, the gigantic structure is owned by a Belgian event staging company called Stageco. After Trump’s event it will be dismantled and shipped back to Europe.
Thank god for small favors.
_________
Header: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
I keep marvelling about the Republicans and their absolute preparedness to go along with this obscenity of a human being …
Surely they must understand that the reckoning will come ?
Or do they think he will be able to protect them forever by preventing honest elections ? And if that’s their belief, what kind of creatures are they ?
It’s a calculated risk. As long as Trump is president, many if not most Republicans in Washington are benefiting both politically and financially by supporting him. But you’re correct; it won’t last forever. Trump won’t be president forever, and they themselves may be voted out of office in the meantime, some as soon as this fall. If Dems take over both houses of Congress this fall, Trump might even be impeached, convicted, and removed from office. That, of course, will make JD Vance president, but he couldn’t be much worse than Trump, could he?
As for the honesty of elections, Trump is doing everything he can to undermine them because he’s afraid he’ll get kicked out of office if Dems win control of Congress. But if Colorado is any example, he’s going to have a tough time interfering in what is, according to the Constitution, strictly each state’s business.
Of course he’s still trying to prove the 2020 election was stolen from him with fraudulent voting. I don’t know what he expects to gain, even if fraud were ever proven. He’s not going to be given another 4 years in office.
Totally agree! Trump has forever damaged the reputation of American culture, in some ways deservedly so. Life in the U.S. has never been as depicted in “Leave it to Beaver.” But what’s going on now is pure nuts. It doesn’t help that we elected this guy twicee.
It’s both heartbreaking and embarrassing. Trump has damaged America’s reputation and desecrated its values in ways that could take decades to fully restore. He’s continuing to undermine the confidence of Americans in their own government — or what now passes for government.
I imagine I’ll live long enough to see him out of office, but I doubt I’ll see a return to pre-Trump America. I just hope my grandkids see it. Someday.
Oh snap! There’s rain in the forecast for Sunday in Washington. On top of 90 degrees and of course, the usual mosquitoes. Tsk, tsk.
you are spot on with this. i am so looking forward to the dems taking over and tearing it down.
Fingers crossed!