lawsuit to – A federal lawsuit filed Saturday asks a judge to stop next week’s UFC event planned for the White House South Lawn and related activities at the Lincoln Memorial, arguing the administration is allowing a commercial fight using federal property without the appr
By the time the octagon cage and a towering lighting structure were fully visible on the White House South Lawn, the question wasn’t whether the sport was coming — it was what legal footing the administration was claiming to bring it there.
A federal lawsuit filed Saturday is now asking a judge to block next week’s UFC fight scheduled for June 14. The case argues the administration is effectively turning federal property into a commercial sports venue without the approvals normally required for that kind of project.
The plaintiffs — a Vietnam veteran and a Virginia civic activist — brought the suit through the Public Integrity Project. They are asking the court to stop the fight at the White House South Lawn and also to halt related activities at the Lincoln Memorial.
Their filing disputes the administration’s position that the event qualifies as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The complaint says the venue plan does not fit the government’s authority to waive permitting requirements for official America 250 celebrations. It also argues the fight conflicts with National Park Service regulations that generally prohibit sports events on federal parkland unless they are specifically authorized.
“The event is neither ‘for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence’ nor, crucially, being ‘planned, organized, and executed’ by the federal government,” the complaint states.
At the center of the challenge is the nature of who is running the event. The plaintiffs argue it is being produced by UFC, its media partners, and corporate sponsors — operating as a commercial enterprise rather than a government-run commemoration.
The lawsuit spends significant time on financial connections, framing them as evidence that private business is receiving access that other companies typically would not be granted.
Attorneys point to reports that UFC is marketing VIP packages priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. The filing also references Paramount Skydance’s plans to stream the event through its subscription service.
It further notes that Trump disclosed purchasing between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, UFC’s parent company, earlier this year.
Taken together, the plaintiffs argue the event grants UFC and its business partners access to the White House and other national landmarks in ways that would ordinarily be unavailable to private companies.
The suit also targets plans for ceremonial fighter weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial before the June 14 fight.
One plaintiff, retired Air Force Sgt. Paul Romano, said the memorial should not be used as part of a commercial sporting promotion. “The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground. and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform. ” Romano said in a statement. “Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration.”.
Romano and co-plaintiff Susan Douglas say they regularly visit the specific public areas referenced in the lawsuit and object to the planned use of those spaces.
The White House has rejected the effort to stop the event.
In a statement to The Hill, an administration official dismissed the case as “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory,” and defended the UFC card as similar to other events previously hosted on White House grounds.
The fight is scheduled for June 14 — the same day as Trump’s 80th birthday. Trump has promoted the event as part of the country’s semiquincentennial celebration and has called it “the greatest show on Earth.“
UFC White House lawsuit June 14 America 250 Lincoln Memorial National Park Service Public Integrity Project Paul Romano Susan Douglas TKO Group Holdings Paramount Skydance
Wait so they’re fighting at the White House??
This feels like they just slapped “America 250” on it so they don’t have to do paperwork. Like if it’s not really the gov doing it, then why is it on federal land?
I dunno, I thought the whole point was it’s part of the 250th anniversary, so wouldn’t that automatically mean it’s authorized? Also Lincoln Memorial rules are like… flexible for big events right? Not sure.
Lawsuit to stop it sounds like someone mad UFC is getting paid on taxpayer property. But then again if lighting towers and cage are already there, it’s kinda too late? I saw a clip where the announcer said it was official celebration stuff… so who’s lying, the court or the promoters?