Lawsuit seeks to stop Trump's UFC fight at the White House – WPDE
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by ALEXX ALTMAN-DEVILBISS | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — A federal lawsuit was filed Saturday seeking to block an upcoming UFC fight planned for the White House South Lawn as part of celebrations surrounding President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary.
The Public Integrity Project filed the suit on behalf of two Virginia residents — a Vietnam War veteran and a civic activist — who argue the event violates federal law and that the administration's authorization of it was unlawful.
"The event, scheduled for June 14, was conceived by President Trump and organized by UFC CEO Dana White, a close personal ally of Trump, and will benefit both men financially," a news release states.
According to the complaint, the event is a "for-profit sporting event" being "planned, organized, and executed" by the UFC, its broadcast partners and advertisers, rather than by the federal government.
The lawsuit also alleges the event violates National Park Service regulations that prohibit sporting events on federal parkland. It further claims Congress did not approve the construction of a towering arch overlooking the venue and that no environmental review was conducted before work began.
In a statement, the White House called the lawsuit an "obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory" attempt to prevent Trump from hosting the fight. The administration argued the event is "no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year."
Trump said earlier this month that seating for roughly 4,000 attendees will surround the octagon. Additional large screens broadcasting the fights will be set up on the nearby Ellipse, and the UFC has said it plans to issue as many as 85,000 free tickets for spectators across both locations.
"This will be the greatest show on Earth," Trump said, adding that the event will blend sports, patriotism and politics in a way never before seen at the White House.
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