The upcoming UFC fight scheduled to take place outside the White House has been criticized by many on the left for “defiling” a national monument. However, many who have made this allegation were silent during the previous administration, as protesters vandalized national monuments and transgender-identifying activists were seen celebrating topless outside the White House for Pride month.

The UFC is scheduled to host “UFC Freedom 250” on the White House South Lawn on Sunday night. Organizers have constructed a custom octagon for the event, which is expected to host more than 4,000 guests.

The event faced a legal challenge earlier this week, but a judge declined to block it on Friday. In response to the lawsuit, the White House defended the event, arguing that it is “no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”

Still, the event has drawn criticism from several left-wing commentators and political figures. During a Friday appearance on PBS NewsHour, MS Now’s Jonathan Capehart and political columnist David Brooks blasted the event and called it “degrading.”

“Well, I first thought of, like, who are the artists John F. Kennedy brought to the White House? It was like W.H. Auden, Robert Frost, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein. And now we have got cage fighting. Don’t anybody say America’s in cultural decline,” Brooks said.

Political commentator Bill Kristol similarly criticized the event, calling it “vulgar, violent, commercial, grandiose,” and “tacky.” Kristol wrote, “It dishonors a place once thought worthy of care and respect. In other words, it’s Donald Trump.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also weighed in on social media, writing, “This is what Trump’s done to the People’s House: a third of it is rubble, another third is a cage match. What a metaphor.” 

However, as voices on the left continue to voice opposition to the UFC event, their side was mostly silent during controversies involving public monuments and White House events in previous years. 

At the height of the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020, far-left agitators defiled a number of landmarks, including the statues of the Founding Fathers. A George Washington statue in Portland, Oregon, was toppled after protesters graffiti-ed “You’re on Native land” and “BLM” on the eve of Juneteenth. A statue of Thomas Jefferson was also removed from the New York City Hall in November of 2021 after critics cited Jefferson’s ownership of slaves.

Under the Biden administration, the White House hosted a Pride event on the same White House lawn where the UFC fight is set to be held. The event featured a transgender-identifying model and activist who went topless, showing off his fake breasts. Two biological women who identify as male stood beside him topless as well, showing off their double mastectomy scars.

Images of these individuals topless went viral as the White House, which was waving a pride flag between two American flags, stood behind them. The guests were banned from future events following fierce backlash.

The UFC event is part of a broader initiative announced by President Donald Trump to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary through a series of events and celebrations. Trump first publicly floated the idea during a campaign rally in Iowa last year, and it was subsequently confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White.

The event is also scheduled to take place on Trump’s birthday.

As of Sunday morning, the weather could complicate the festivities. Forecasters have issued thunderstorm warnings in the area, raising the possibility of disruptions to the outdoor event.