lawsuit seeks – Two Virginia residents filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping a UFC fight scheduled at the White House on June 14, arguing the event lacks required congressional authorization and environmental review and that it will financially benefit President Donald Trump and
On the White House South Lawn, construction crews have already begun building a massive cage for a UFC fight scheduled for June 14—an event tied to President Donald Trump’s birthday and billed as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Now, two Virginia residents are asking a court to stop it before the first bell. The lawsuit was filed Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of a Vietnam War veteran and a civic activist. challenging both the legality of using the White House grounds and the potential financial incentives surrounding the fight.
The complaint argues the structure erected on the White House grounds is not authorized without congressional approval or environmental review. It also contends the plan to use the White House—“to stage a private. for-profit sports event. with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access”—will financially benefit UFC President Dana White and Trump himself.
At the center of that claim is a detail the lawsuit highlights from a report this spring: that Trump bought $50,000 in stock in UFC’s parent company.
The lawsuit also pushes back on the administration’s position that the UFC match falls under congressional authorization for events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. It argues the fight is “not in any material sense a ‘celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence’—it is. instead. a celebration of the UFC’s brand and the 80th anniversary of Donald Trump’s birth.”.
Plaintiff Paul Romano, a retired Air Force sergeant and Vietnam veteran, said in a news release that the location matters.
“The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground, and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform,” Romano said. “Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration.”
Romano’s complaint also points to the fight’s scheduled lead-up. A weigh-in for the fighters is set for the day before at the Lincoln Memorial.
The lawsuit further cites reports that UFC is selling VIP packages for between $1 million and $1.5 million as part of its effort to capitalize on the event. Brendan Ballou, the founder of the Public Integrity Project, called the plan a scheme built to enrich powerful allies.
“This is a profoundly corrupt scheme to enrich the President and his friends,” Ballou said. “If this fight is allowed to proceed, it will be only the beginning, and our national monuments will become little more than branding opportunities for the rich and well-connected.”
While crews have been working on the June 14 fight cage, the White House South Lawn has also been transformed by an oversized arched lighting grid that UFC calls “The Claw.” Trump has said the event will be “the greatest show on Earth.”
The White House and UFC have not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of publication; the White House and UFC were reached out to for comment.
UFC White House lawsuit Public Integrity Project Dana White Donald Trump Virginia residents Lincoln Memorial weigh-in South Lawn construction The Claw 250th birthday
Wait UFC at the White House? Like… why.
This is definitely just Trump doing whatever he wants with taxpayer stuff. I heard they didn’t get the right approvals or whatever, so of course people are mad.
Idk I kinda feel like the 250th thing means they can do it. But then again if there’s no environmental review… doesn’t that apply to like literally everything with construction? Also Dana White is rich enough already, so the stock part doesn’t surprise me.
So they’re suing because Trump bought UFC stock?? That seems like a stretch, like he buys stocks in everything. Also the whole ‘celebration of Trump birthday’ thing like… isn’t that still “American Independence” somehow? Idk this sounds like politics dressed up as paperwork. I just want to know how loud the cage is gonna be on the South Lawn.