A federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking to block an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event scheduled to take place on the White House South Lawn and at the Lincoln Memorial on June 14. The complaint, filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of Virginia residents Paul Romano, a Vietnam War veteran, and Susan Douglas, a longtime civic activist, asks a judge to halt the event while the case proceeds. This legal challenge targets a high-profile project backed by President Donald Trump, who has promoted the event as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
"The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground, and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform. Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration." — Paul Romano, Vietnam War Veteran and Plaintiff.
Administration officials have dismissed the lawsuit as “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory,” asserting that the event is being properly conducted. They argue that hosting the UFC event is consistent with other activities previously held on White House grounds or permitted on federal property throughout the year. Preparations for UFC Freedom 250 have continued in recent weeks, with President Trump stating that the project will feature a 5,000-seat arena on the South Lawn, alongside additional public viewing areas. UFC officials have also discussed distributing free tickets to accommodate large crowds.
The plaintiffs contend that federal agencies violated multiple laws and regulations in their approval process for the UFC event. Central to their complaint is the assertion that the administration improperly authorized a commercial sporting event on federal parkland. They also allege that legal requirements related to construction activities for the event were not met, specifically citing the erection of a massive steel structure known as “The Claw.” This structure, which stands approximately 92 feet tall and weighs about 600 tons, was installed on the South Lawn, and the plaintiffs argue that congressional authorization was required for its placement on federal property.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that federal officials failed to conduct a required environmental review before construction and related preparations began. According to the filing, an evaluation of potential restoration and environmental impacts should have been completed before any work proceeded. The administration has not publicly indicated that these environmental concerns would impede the event's progress.
The complaint also challenges plans for ceremonial fighter weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial. Plaintiffs argue that federal officials exceeded their authority by allowing portions of the commercial event to be held at national landmarks. Administration officials have not indicated any plans to cancel these activities.
Paul Romano, one of the plaintiffs, voiced strong objections to the use of the Lincoln Memorial. “I served in Vietnam. I’ve been to the Wall and seen the names of my childhood friends who stood the watch and gave their all,” Romano stated. “The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground, and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform. Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration.”
Susan Douglas, the other plaintiff, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the administration’s handling of the event. “The President arranged to hand two of America’s most cherished monuments to a private corporation so he and his allies could profit from them. That is corruption,” Douglas said. “These monuments belong to all of us Americans, not to Dana White, not to advertisers like Crypto.com, and not to Donald Trump.”
Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project, described the lawsuit as an effort to stop what he characterized as an improper use of federal property. “This is a profoundly corrupt scheme to enrich the President and his friends,” Ballou asserted. “If this fight is allowed to proceed, it will be only the beginning, and our national monuments will become little more than branding opportunities for the rich and well-connected. We plan to stop that.”
The court is expected to consider the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order before the scheduled June 14 event date. If the request is denied, UFC Freedom 250 is expected to proceed as planned, continuing the administration’s broader celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The outcome of this legal challenge will determine whether a high-profile event backed by the President will move forward as planned on iconic federal grounds.
