A federal judge on Friday denied an emergency request to block President Donald Trump from hosting a UFC event on the White House South Lawn, allowing preparations for the highly anticipated gathering to continue.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate they would suffer immediate or irreparable harm if the event proceeded. He also suggested they likely lacked the legal standing necessary to challenge the plans in court.
The lawsuit, brought by attorneys for the Public Integrity Project on behalf of an activist and a Vietnam War veteran, sought to stop both the UFC event and the construction of temporary structures erected on White House grounds. Among those structures is a massive steel installation known as “The Claw,” standing 92 feet tall and weighing roughly 600 tons.
Plaintiffs argued that the administration was improperly allowing a private, for-profit organization to use public property for a commercial event. They also claimed the gathering would serve as a tribute to Trump coinciding with his 80th birthday.
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Judge Mehta rejected those arguments, noting that organizers plan to begin dismantling the temporary structures immediately after the event. He also criticized the timing of the lawsuit, writing that the plaintiffs waited too long to seek emergency relief despite knowing about the event well in advance.
The White House dismissed the legal challenge as meritless, arguing that public events are routinely held on federal property throughout Washington and that the UFC gathering is no different.
Trump has maintained a close relationship with UFC President Dana White for years and has frequently attended major UFC events. In 2019, he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a UFC fight card.
The event is being promoted as part of celebrations marking America’s upcoming 250th anniversary while also coinciding with Trump’s birthday. Organizers have transformed portions of the White House grounds into a temporary UFC venue in preparation for thousands of invited guests.
Mehta’s ruling represents another courtroom victory for the administration, which faced a last-minute effort by opponents to halt the event. The judge emphasized that his decision was based largely on procedural issues rather than broader constitutional questions raised by the lawsuit.
Unless further legal action is taken, the event will proceed as scheduled, making it one of the most unusual sporting spectacles ever hosted at the White House.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
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