A federal judge cleared the way for Trump’s 80th birthday UFC event at the White House on Friday, declining to block the mixed martial arts fights scheduled for Sunday on the South Lawn. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that two Virginia residents who challenged the event lacked legal standing to sue, removing a potential last-minute roadblock to what the administration calls a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The Public Integrity Project filed the lawsuit on behalf of a political activist and retired Air Force sergeant, arguing the event violated National Park Service regulations that prohibit sporting events on federal parkland and that it lacked required congressional authorization. They called the event “deeply corrupt” and alleged the Trump administration improperly used a temporary rule for “America 250” celebrations to stage the fights.
Mehta, an Obama appointee, rejected the legal challenge on procedural grounds rather than addressing the substantive claims. He found the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate they would be directly harmed by the event. The activist said she frequently protests near the Lincoln Memorial; the sergeant said he drives for a ride-share service and might pass by. “Only a serendipitous rideshare trip would place him in a position to see the Claw on the night of the fights,” Mehta wrote, referring to the 92-foot-tall temporary octagon structure already erected on the White House grounds.
The Trump administration argued the plaintiffs were too late in filing, had no standing, and that the fight was legal under special permitting exceptions for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The Justice Department said more than 4,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250.” A White House spokesperson said the judge “rightly rejected an untimely and frivolous” effort to halt what the administration calls a historic celebration.
The lawsuit represents one of several legal challenges Trump faces over construction and events at the White House and elsewhere in the capital. The administration is simultaneously defending plans to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of a demolished East Wing and facing court orders to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
UFC President Dana White is a close Trump ally. Trump’s ties to the UFC date back to the early 2000s, when he hosted events at his Atlantic City casino. TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent of the UFC, is also the parent company of WWE, and former WWE executive Linda McMahon serves as Trump’s education secretary.
Sources
- Reuters — Judge Mehta’s ruling, event details, structure specifications, expected attendance, Trump-UFC history
- The Hill — Judge’s reasoning on legal standing, White House statement, plaintiffs’ background
- ABC News — Lawsuit allegations, Judge Mehta’s standing determination
