UFC fighters – A lawsuit filed by two Virginia residents asks a federal judge to block President Donald Trump’s UFC event on the National Mall, after a court declaration described fighters entering the Lincoln Memorial chamber by elevator with a child and being filmed as the
On the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial has long been associated with solemn ceremonies. But in a declaration filed in federal court this week, a National Parks Service permits official described a different plan for the space — one that could turn a political spectacle into a media production.
Marisa Richardson. chief of the National Mall and Memorial Parks Division of Permits Management. told the court that the UFC intends to have “each participant in the UFC event (i.e. fighters) enter the Lincoln Memorial chamber via elevator from a lower level. each accompanied by a child.” Richardson added that “each fighter and accompanying child will be filmed walking through the chamber and descending the steps to the press conference area.”.
The declaration did not explain who the children would be or why they are expected to attend.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is overseeing the litigation and is expected to issue a ruling Thursday.
The lawsuit was filed by Virginia residents Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, both described in the case filings as seeking to stop President Donald Trump’s UFC event. Douglas is a former federal employee and activist organizer. Romano is a retired Air Force sergeant and Vietnam War veteran.
Douglas and Romano argue the event is a “deeply corrupt” money-making venture for the president. In their complaint, they point to “sponsorship packages” that cost up to $1.5 million per person. They also cite financial disclosures showing Trump personally invested as much as $50. 000 in TKO. the company that owns the UFC. two weeks after the fight was announced.
The fight itself is scheduled to be hosted by Trump as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The seating arrangement and “The Octagon” fighting enclosure for the upcoming UFC fight — which Trump will host as part of the commemoration — have been shown on the South Lawn of the White House during a media preview on June 11.
A White House spokesperson rejected the lawsuit in sharp terms. calling it “obstructionist. baseless. and dilatory. ” and saying it was “brought simply to prevent President Trump from hosting what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most historic sporting events in our Nation’s history during our semiquincentennial celebration.”.
Brendan Ballou, an attorney with Public Integrity Project representing Douglas and Romano, used even harsher language in court filings. He described the event as a “volcano of corruption. ” writing that if allowed to go forward. it would “mark an inflection point in American history. ” and that the images it produces “will one day appear in the history books — and not in the chapters about times remembered fondly.”.
The dispute also centers on how the National Parks Service will use the physical space of the Lincoln Memorial. Douglas and Romano have asked Mehta to stop the National Parks Service from using the South Lawn.
They allege that the Trump administration initially said it would not use the physical chamber of the Lincoln Memorial for fighter “walk-outs. ” but instead planned to use a section of the monument known as the “approach.” Richardson’s Wednesday declaration. however. describes plans tied to the chamber itself.
In that same declaration, Richardson also addressed the presence of children at the event. She wrote that. “The presence of children at the notoriously violent sport strikes a somewhat unusual chord.” She compared it to sports norms elsewhere. adding that “It is normal in soccer. however. The World Cup has done it for years. with professional players walking hand in hand with kids to the field before a big match.”.
Neither the White House nor the UFC immediately returned requests for comment about the specific plan described in Richardson’s court filing.
As the hearing and ruling approach. the case has placed unusual details from the permits process directly into the center of a legal fight — one that mixes allegations of profiteering and political influence with a question about whether the country’s most recognizable memorial space should be staged for a fight-night media moment involving children.
Trump UFC lawsuit Lincoln Memorial chamber Richardson Marisa Mehta Virginia Douglas Romano TKO sponsorship packages June 11 South Lawn
So they’re really bringing kids in an elevator at the Lincoln Memorial? That’s wild.
I didn’t even know UFC could do stuff like that on the Mall. Sounds like a total cash grab, like of course Trump would monetize it. Also why are they filming people walking through the chamber? Seems disrespectful.
Wait so the lawsuit is about fighters using the elevator and bringing a child, or is it because the event is “political”? I’m confused. If it’s on federal property then yeah maybe, but the article made it sound like the Parks Service was already approving it??
Man, I can’t stand when they turn historical stuff into content. But also $1.5 million sponsorship per person?? That number sounds fake to me. And Trump investing $50,000 in TKO?? I feel like that’s not even a lot compared to all the money they’re talking about.