The U.S. District Court allowed the mixed martial arts event scheduled this weekend on presidential grounds to proceed.
A federal judge on Friday denied a legal challenge aiming to stop a UFC mixed martial arts event from taking place on the South Lawn of the White House this weekend.
U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate both a substantial likelihood of standing and irreparable harm. The court also determined that the equities and public interest weighed against granting emergency relief.
“For the reasons that follow, the motion is denied,” Mehta wrote.
The ruling means organizers can move forward with the UFC Freedom 250 event, which includes fights scheduled for the South Lawn.
The plaintiffs, Susan Douglas and others, had asked the court to prevent use of the White House South Lawn and the Lincoln Memorial for the event. They contended that the authorization for the event violated National Park Service regulations, was unlawfully permitted, and failed to receive the necessary environmental review.
Plaintiffs seeking a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction must demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, a likelihood of irreparable harm, a balance of equities in their favor, and that an injunction serves the public interest. The court determined the plaintiffs did not meet these requirements, particularly as it relates to standing and irreparable harm.
The event is part of broader celebrations linked to the nation’s 250th anniversary, and includes a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, a ceremonial weigh-in and concert at the Ellipse, and the main fights on the South Lawn.
The ruling does not resolve any underlying claims on the merits of whether the permitting process was proper. It addresses only the request for immediate emergency relief.
Workers have already been building a temporary octagon on the South Lawn for the fights, which are described as the first professional sporting event held at the White House.
Officials have made plans for overflow viewing areas in a park known as The Ellipse south of the White House. The UFC says as many as 85,000 free tickets will be issued to accommodate spectators.
“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” Trump recently said of ticket demand last month. “That’s gonna be something.”
The president announced plans for the event in July 2025.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” he said.
“And we’re gonna do that as part of 250. Also, we’re gonna have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events, but the UFC fight is gonna be a big deal too.”
