Judge rules Trump can stage UFC fights at White House
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- A federal judge denied a request to stop the UFC event scheduled on the White House South Lawn, allowing the mixed martial arts show to proceed as planned on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
- Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and failed to demonstrate irreparable harm, also criticizing their delay in filing the lawsuit against the event.
- The lawsuit, filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of an activist and a Vietnam War veteran, challenged the construction of a large steel structure called The Claw and the use of public grounds for a private, for-profit event.
- Plaintiffs argued that the Trump administration unlawfully granted permits for the UFC event, which includes VIP packages costing millions, framing the case as one about corruption and misuse of public monuments.
- The White House dismissed the lawsuit as baseless, noting that such events are routinely held at public forums in Washington, D.C., and highlighted Trump’s longstanding relationship with UFC president Dana White.