A lawsuit has been filed by two Virginia residents seeking to prevent a UFC fight from taking place at the White House. The event is part of the celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary and coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The plaintiffs, represented by the Public Integrity Project, include a Vietnam War veteran and a civic activist. They argue that the structure erected on the White House grounds for the event is unauthorized without congressional approval or an environmental review.

Concerns Over Financial Benefits

The lawsuit claims that the UFC event is a private, for-profit sports event that will financially benefit UFC President Dana White and President Trump. It cites a report that Trump purchased $50,000 in stock in UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, earlier this year. The plaintiffs argue that the event is not a genuine celebration of America’s 250th anniversary but rather a promotion of the UFC brand and Trump’s birthday.

Use of Historic Sites

Paul Romano, a retired Air Force sergeant and Vietnam veteran, expressed concern over the use of the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop for the fighters’ weigh-in. 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.” The weigh-in is scheduled for June 13, a day before the main event on the White House South Lawn.

The White House and UFC have not yet commented on the lawsuit. The administration has previously asserted that the UFC match is authorized under congressional approval for events celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. However, the plaintiffs dispute this claim, emphasizing the event’s focus on the UFC brand rather than American independence.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.