NEW YORK (AP) — A federal legal challenge has been filed attempting to prevent a planned UFC mixed martial arts event scheduled for the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration and the country’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
The Public Integrity Project filed the lawsuit Saturday on behalf of two Virginia residents, arguing that the Trump administration’s approval of the June 14 event breaks federal law. The legal filing claims the authorization violates National Park Service rules that ban sporting competitions on federal park property, alleges Congress did not approve the large arch structure being built to overlook the venue, and states no environmental assessment was completed before construction began.
“This is fundamentally a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” said Brendan Ballou, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “And that is what is motivating this lawsuit.”
The White House responded with a statement calling the legal action an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” effort to stop Trump from hosting the competition, adding that the event was “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.”
UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
Construction teams are currently building an octagon-shaped fighting cage on the South Lawn. Trump has announced the completed UFC venue will include “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House.” Large viewing screens showing the matches will also be installed at a nearby park on the Ellipse, with the UFC planning to distribute up to 85,000 complimentary tickets for spectators at both sites.
The octagon structure and accompanying facilities represent the newest addition to the White House construction projects Trump is overseeing.
