A pair of Virginia residents have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop UFC Freedom 250 from taking place on the South Lawn of the White House, arguing the event violates federal regulations and raises ethical concerns.
The lawsuit, filed against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, requests an emergency injunction to prevent the planned UFC card from moving forward. Court filings argue that the planned event is less focused on honoring American independence than on promoting the UFC brand and recognizing Trump’s 80th birthday.
According to the complaint, organizers failed to comply with federal permitting requirements, bypassed environmental review processes and created potential conflicts of interest. Critics contend that even a temporary UFC setup on White House grounds must meet environmental and legal standards before proceeding.
The fight card is being promoted as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with organizers proposing to hold the event on the White House South Lawn. The plaintiffs argue that staging a professional sporting event at the executive residence presents legal obstacles.
The lawsuit claims that the South Lawn and surrounding federal property are governed by regulations that generally prohibit commercial installations and privately operated sporting events unless environmental assessments are completed and Congress grants approval.
Event organizers have reportedly invoked a special exemption associated with America’s 250th birthday festivities. However, the plaintiffs maintain that UFC Freedom 250 is fundamentally a commercial enterprise involving the UFC, media partners, sponsors and advertisers rather than an official government-sponsored celebration.
The lawsuit further alleges that the event could provide financial benefits to President Trump and several individuals connected to him, including UFC CEO Dana White and Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison.
The complaint also references reports that Trump purchased as much as $50,000 in stock of TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent company of the UFC, reports Fox News.
