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Behind the Story: Trump's birthday plans and Freedom 250

From musical concerts to a UFC cage fight, US President Donald Trump is preparing to mark his birthday and the 250th anniversary of American Independence.

The latest plans include a proposal for President Trump's image to appear on a new $250 bill.

Columnist with The Hill, Niall Stanage, told Behind the Story a law change would be required for this to come to pass.

"American law, as of right now, prohibits any living person from being featured on US currency," he explained.

UFC fight

Construction of a UFC fight ring is underway on the south lawn of the White House.

The UFC 250 event is due to take place on 14 June, President Trump's 80th birthday.

Mr Stanage said: "That is adding one more item to a very long list of things that I never thought I would see."

"It is obviously massively unorthodox – to put it kindly – to have a combat bout on the lawn of the White House.

"It is billed as 'UFC 250’, a reference obviously to the 250th anniversary of the United States, but its fixing on the calendar on Trump’s birthday, I think, speaks for itself."

Mr Stanage said the price of staging the fight, estimated to be $60 million, is being absorbed by the UFC itself.

Costs

Mr Stanage said questions have also been raised about the cost to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which stands in front of the Washington Monument.

"The administration still contends one of the reasons for this, perhaps, inflated bill for it is because of the urgency involved," he said.

"They basically say, ‘we gave them more money because we wanted it done fast’ - how persuasive is that?"

Mr Stanage also outlines plans for a protest against the celebration - as well as a series of concerts, which appear to be losing acts just days after their announcement.


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You can also find episodes on Apple here, or on Spotify here.