A lawsuit is seeking to prevent U.S. President Donald Trump from hosting an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match at the White House. Filed by two Virginia residents, the suit represents the first known legal challenge to the mixed martial arts event, which is slated for June 14.
June 14 coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday and ties into the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which the U.S. will commemorate on July 4 this year. The complaint, submitted Saturday (April 5), argues that President Trump has not obtained proper authorization to hold the match.
The lawsuit contends the event violates National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parkland. It also states that Congress has not approved the construction of a high arch overlooking the event area, and no environmental assessment was conducted prior to construction.
“This is fundamentally an illegal, commercial, and corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private benefit,” said Brendan Ballou, attorney for the plaintiffs. “And that is what’s driving this lawsuit.”
In a statement to the Associated Press, the White House dismissed the suit as “obstructive, baseless, and delaying.” The White House insisted the UFC match is “no different from other events hosted by the White House on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”
Construction crews have already erected an octagonal cage on the White House’s South Lawn. Trump said the project would include a “5,000-seat arena right in front of the White House.” The event is by invitation only and will be heavily monitored. Last week, Military Times reported that 1,200 service members invited to attend must meet certain waist-to-height ratio standards. Public viewing areas will also be set up nearby on the Ellipse.
President Trump has long been closely associated with both professional wrestling and the UFC, as his casinos and event spaces previously hosted events. He frequently appeared as himself at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. His current Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, is a co-founder of WWE. More recently, Trump has embraced the UFC, now owned by TKO Group Holdings alongside WWE. UFC President Dana White is a close Trump ally.
Political analysts suggest Trump’s support for the sport helped him reach disaffected male voters in the U.S., particularly during his 2024 presidential campaign.
