A federal lawsuit filed Saturday is seeking to shut down a UFC fight night planned for the White House's South Lawn on June 14, the same day President Trump turns 80.
The lawsuit was filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of a political activist and an Air Force veteran. It calls the plans around the event deeply corrupt and argues the event is structured to financially benefit the president and his allies.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit makes several specific legal arguments. It contends that holding the event on national parklands violates federal law, that construction of the venue, which includes a massive arch, on the South Lawn lacks congressional authorization, and that no environmental review was conducted.
The lawsuit directly names those it says stand to benefit. That list includes President Trump, who has investments in UFC's parent company, UFC chief executive Dana White, and Paramount SkyDance, the broadcast partner for the event. Paramount declined to comment.
The UFC has said the event is part of celebrations marking the country's 250th anniversary. The lawsuit disputes that framing.
"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 lawsuit says. It adds, "Rather, UFC Freedom 250 is being held for the financial benefit of the UFC, Paramount, and their advertisers, and to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Donald Trump's birth."
The weekend's events are set to begin Friday night at the Lincoln Memorial, two days before the South Lawn fight.
An administration official pushed back hard on the legal challenge. The official called it "an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory" attempt to prevent 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." The official also said the event is no different from other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall.
UFC did not respond to a request for comment.
The fight night is scheduled for June 14. No court date has been announced in connection with the lawsuit.
