WASHINGTON — A lawsuit filed Saturday by the Public Integrity Project is seeking to halt an Ultimate Fighting Championship event planned for June 14 on the White House grounds.UFC Freedom 250 would be the first professional sports event on the White House grounds and coincides with President Trump’s 80th birthday. It has been billed by the administration as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.The lawsuit seeking an emergency temporary restraining order was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of two Virginia residents, Susan Douglas, a political activist, and Paul Romano, a Vietnam War veteran.The lawsuit calls the plan to do weigh-ins for the fights at the Lincoln Memorial and to stage the bouts on the White House grounds “deeply corrupt.” It alleges that the president is doing a favor for UFC chief executive Dana White, a close friend and ally, that violates numerous federal rules and regulations.“The President is giving White and his company what none have enjoyed before: unfettered access to the White House and Lincoln Memorial to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access,” the lawsuit reads.Construction at the event venue, including the erection of a 600-ton steel arch on the South Lawn of the White House, has been ongoing.The lawsuit asks the court to declare authorizations for the event and for the construction of the arena unlawful. Douglas and Smith, the plaintiffs, each argue that they frequent the area and were offended by the spectacle being held outside national monuments.The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior are listed as defendants.“Federal law tightly restricts private use of the national capital’s most sacred monumental spaces, which are national parklands,” the lawsuit states. The suit argues that under the National Park Service’s usual permitting regime, “no special events of any sort, including any sporting events, may be held on the South Lawn or at the Lincoln Memorial. Nor may structures be erected on the South Lawn without express authorization from Congress and a thorough environmental review.”In a statement emailed to The Athletic, the White House called the filing an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit brought simply to prevent President Trump from hosting what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most historic sporting events in our Nation’s history during our semiquincentennial celebration. This iconic event is 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.”White has said UFC is spending $60 million on the show’s production and will foot the $700,000 bill in restorations to the South Lawn after the event.“Private parties stand to make money through $1.5 million individual seats, exclusive streaming rights, and advertising space at the White House and Lincoln Memorial (perhaps the two structures that most define — and best represent the ideals of — America),” attorney Brendan Ballou said in an email to The Athletic. “The basic question we need ask as a country is whether we want to use our most sacred national monuments to enrich the president and his allies. We think the question answers itself.”The fight card is headlined by a lightweight title fight between defending champion Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, as well as an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.Jun 7, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms