As if he has not already demeaned the American presidency, the current incumbent says that to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday next year he will bring to the White House a mixed martial arts fight.
Thoughtful of him to provide us opportunity, on that notable occasion for our fragile democracy, to watch two people batter each other with fists and kick each other in the face.
This repugnant fantasy, straight from the Colosseum, speaks volumes about the rage and rancor driving the personality of His Royal Vileness.
His vision includes 25,000 Americans, presumably with thumbs up or down, bellowing at combatants in a cage on the White House grounds.
The rapidly growing sport has its fans, who see it as a symbol of confidence, strength, and mental discipline.
Others say its savage punching, kicking, and knee thrusts are barbaric, dangerous, and glorifying of violence.
No matter one’s views, it’s wistful to recall other presidents whose ideas on White House invitees included Louis Armstrong, cellist Pablo Casals, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Elton John, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, opera diva Leontyne Price, and classical guitarist Andres Segovia.
Our current president’s taste led him in 2018 to invite the antisemitic and Holocaust-denying rapper Kanye West. Just recently, Australia did the opposite, banning West from entry after the release in May of his song “Heil Hitler,” which glorifies the Nazi führer.
Trump at the time of his invitation said that West, who himself identifies as a Nazi, “has been a friend of mine for a long time.”
Just after he launched his second election campaign in 2022, Trump had dinner at Mar-a-Lago with West and other guests, telling the Associated Press afterward that “we got along great, he expressed no antisemitism, and I appreciated all the nice things he said about me on Tucker Carlson. Why wouldn’t I agree to meet?”
The answer seemed obvious a few weeks ago to Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who said letting West into his country would be like “deliberately importing bigotry.”
As for combat sports, Trump is no stranger to them. He hosted high-profile boxing matches decades ago at his Atlantic City hotels and is close to Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts organization.
White attended Trump’s campaign rallies and worked to help him win the 2024 election.
“I think it’s going to be a wild time,” Trump said of the various events and athletic competitions he’s planning for our nation’s big anniversary, adding that “The UFC fight is going to be a big deal, too.”
Well, maybe His Vileness is onto something there – perhaps he could go a step further and import gladiators and lions.
That would be a deal big enough to suit his imperious ego. One can easily see him in some MAGA-built amphitheater, resplendent in his toga, thumbs at the ready and ordering his fawning acolytes to pass the grapes and melons.
Gerry Goldstein (gerryg76@verizon.net), a frequent contributor, is a retired Providence Journal editor and columnist.
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