UFC White House: Judge dismisses federal lawsuit against UFC Freedom 250

The UFC’s show at the White House on Sunday will go ahead as planned after a judge rejected a federal lawsuit alleging the event violated American law.

On US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, a one-of-a-kind show called UFC Freedom 250 is set to take place on the South Lawn as part of the celebration of 250 years of American independence.

Last week, the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit seeking an emergency temporary restraining order for “gross abuse of sacred national monuments for personal gain.”

The group argued that the Trump administration illegally hosted a private sporting event on public property in violation of National Park Service rules, but Judge Amit P. Mehta rejected the challenge.

Mehta of the US District Court in Washington, D.C., said the plaintiffs failed to establish that they would suffer any irreparable harm or aesthetic injury if the UFC fights took place.

Mehta noted that the event had been public knowledge for nearly a year, but the Public Integrity Project didn’t file its lawsuit until June 7, 2026 — more than two weeks after apparent preparations began at the White House.

Mehta added that the late suit “undermines their claim of irreparable damage” and that the temporary claw-shaped structure built to host the event makes “risk of any significant environmental damage questionable”.

The Public Integrity Project has brought several lawsuits against Trump, including one to reverse sales of the social media app TikTok and another to freeze billions of dollars in “anti-weaponization” funding.

In response to the group, the Trump administration told the BBC: “This is an obstructionist, baseless and misleading lawsuit brought solely to prevent President Trump from hosting what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most historic sporting events in our nation’s history during our half-centennial celebration.”

The White House has hosted entertainment sports and events before, but the UFC’s show will mark the first professional live sporting event held at the grounds.

The UFC spent around $60m (£44.3m) on the event, headlined by a unification fight between lightweight champion Ilya Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje.

The co-main event pits Cyril Gain against Alex Pereira in an interim heavyweight title fight.