Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty Images
A federal judge has cleared the way for the White House to host a major Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the South Lawn this weekend, rejecting a last-minute attempt to block the fight. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled against two Virginia residents who argued that President Donald Trump's administration had improperly authorized the UFC event, known as UFC Freedom 250, without following required procedures.
The plaintiffs, represented by the Public Integrity Project, claimed the event should not be allowed because it was organized by a private entity, not the government, and bypassed environmental reviews and other federal rules. They described the event as "deeply corrupt" and argued it would harm the character of public land and benefit President Trump and his allies. The lawsuit objected to the use of a temporary rule meant for America's 250th anniversary celebrations to permit the event.
The Justice Department responded that the challenge was filed too late and lacked merit. In court filings, government lawyers said blocking the event would "ruin an event designed to celebrate the United States of America," and noted that more than $60 million and tens of thousands of hours had been invested in preparations. The department also stressed that over 4,000 spectators, including more than 1,000 service members, were expected to attend, with many more watching from nearby areas or remotely. They argued that the plaintiffs’ "aesthetic interests are dwarfed by the amount of time, labor, and funding that has been invested in reliance upon an understanding that the planned activities will take place."
The lawsuit, filed Saturday by the activists Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, contended that the event required congressional approval for any structure erected on public land in Washington, DC. The government countered that the temporary nature of the structure for the fight did not require such approval, and that the cage would be disassembled starting Monday. The judge agreed with the government’s position, finding the request to halt the event did not meet the high bar for emergency intervention. The judge will continue to review the underlying claims but allowed the event to move forward.
The UFC event is intended as a kickoff for America’s 250th birthday celebrations and is scheduled for Sunday (June 14), with a ceremonial weigh-in at the Lincoln Memorial the day before. Critics have called the event a "money grab," while supporters compare it to other large-scale White House gatherings like the annual Easter Egg Roll and Congressional Picnic.