President Trump’s plan to turn the White House lawn into the world’s most exclusive fight venue is facing a legal takedown attempt just days before the first punch is thrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two Virginia residents have filed a federal lawsuit seeking an emergency injunction to stop UFC Freedom 250, the blockbuster mixed martial arts event scheduled for June 14 on the White House South Lawn as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, alleges the Trump administration ignored federal permitting requirements, skipped mandatory environmental reviews and improperly approved a private sporting event on federally protected grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plaintiffs \u2014 retired Air Force Sgt. Paul Romano of Springfield, Virginia, and civic activist Susan Douglas of Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 are represented by the Public Integrity Project. They argue the White House South Lawn and nearby federal property are subject to strict regulations that generally prohibit commercial sporting events without congressional authorization and environmental review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“This is fundamentally a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” attorney Brendan Ballou, who represents the plaintiffs, told reporters.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
At the center of the dispute is the administration’s reliance on special exemptions tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations. The lawsuit contends UFC Freedom 250 is less a patriotic celebration and more a lucrative marketing opportunity for the UFC and its business partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n