Lawsuit filed to stop UFC fight at the White House for Trump's birthday

(8 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 26 May 2026 1. Wide of cranes and workers setting up staging equipment for a UFC event on the South lawn of the White House 2. Focus pull from White House sign to UFC construction 3. Mid of Freedom 250 flag on Constitution avenue ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 6 May 2026 4. STILL of President Donald Trump meeting with UFC fighters in the Oval Office of the White House (AP Photo by Jacquelyn Martin; ID: 26126682399018) 5. STILL of President Donald Trump (AP Photo by Jacquelyn Martin; ID: 26126743402620) ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 26 May 2026 6. Pan of the construction ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 5 June 2026 7. Various aerials of the construction for the UFC fight outside the White House 8. Two tourists looking at the White House UFC construction from inside the Washington Monument observation deck ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 4 June 2026 9. STILL of workers building the stage for a future UFC fight on the South Lawn pictured from the Rose Garden of the White House (AP Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson; ID: 26155762582277) ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 5 June 2026 10. Aerial of the construction for the UFC fight outside the White House ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 6 June 2026 11. STILL of construction on the arena on the South Lawn of the White House (AP Photo by John McDonnell; ID: 26157675261776) ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 26 May 2026 12. STILL of a tourist taking a photo of the Ellipse and the White House from the Washington Monument (AP Photo by Mark Schiefelbein; ID: 26146616076791) ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 5 June 2026 13. Wide of workers building new structures on the Ellipse ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 8 June 2026 14. Wide of White House obstructed by construction related to the UFC fight ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 5 June 2026 15. STILL of workers building the cage for a future UFC fight on the South Lawn in front of the White House (AP Photo by Allison Robbert; ID: 26156585884145) STORYLINE: A FEDERAL LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED TO STOP THE UPCOMING UFC FIGHT CARD AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SHOW IS IN HONOR OF THE NATION’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY AND IS SCHEDULED FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S 80TH BIRTHDAY, JUNE 14TH. THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED SATURDAY BY THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY PROJECT ON BEHALF OF TWO VIRGINIA RESIDENTS. THEY ARGUE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S AUTHORIZATION OF THE EVENT WAS UNLAWFUL, AS IT VIOLATES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REGULATIONS PROHIBITING SPORTING EVENTS ON FEDERAL PARKLANDS. A LAWYER FOR THE PLAINTIFFS SAID, "THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY A PRIVATE, COMMERCIAL, CORRUPT USE OF OUR MOST SACRED NATIONAL MONUMENTS FOR PRIVATE GAIN." THE WHITE HOUSE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE LEGAL CHALLENGE WAS “OBSTRUCTIONIST, BASELESS, AND DILATORY.” IT ALSO SAID THE EVENT WAS "NO DIFFERENT THAN THE VARIOUS OTHER WHITE HOUSE-HOSTED EVENTS ON THE SOUTH LAWN." CREWS ARE ERECTING AN OCTAGON-SHAPED CAGE, AND TRUMP SAID THE FINISHED PROJECT WILL FEATURE A 5,000-SEAT ARENA RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE. ADDITIONAL LARGE SCREENS BROADCASTING THE FIGHTS WILL BE SET UP IN A PARK NEARBY. THE UFC SAID IT PLANS TO ISSUE AS MANY AS 85,000 TICKETS FOR FREE TO ACCOMMODATE SPECTATORS AT BOTH LOCATIONS. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...