Lawsuit Challenges UFC Event on White House Lawn for President Trump's Birthday
A federal lawsuit has been filed to stop a UFC fight scheduled to take place on the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. The lawsuit, filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents, argues that the Trump administration's approval of the event violates National Park Service regulations, which prohibit sporting events on federal parklands. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Congress did not consent to the construction of a towering arch for the event, and no environmental review was conducted. The White House has dismissed the lawsuit as an obstructionist attempt to prevent the event, comparing it to other White House-hosted events. The UFC plans to set up a 5,000-seat arena on the South Lawn and broadcast the fights on large screens at the nearby Ellipse, with up to 85,000 free tickets available for spectators.