The Public Integrity Project, a watchdog group, filed the complaint in federal court on June 6 on behalf of two private plaintiffs, according to a copy of the lawsuit reviewed by Main Street Independent.
The lawsuit alleges that the UFC event violates National Park Service regulations governing commercial activities on federal land and circumvents Congress’s authority to approve temporary structures on national monument grounds. It points to a 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel structure that has been erected on the South Lawn, which the lawsuit says has already damaged the grass. The lawsuit contends that such a structure on land adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial requires legislative authorization.
“The president is giving White and his company what none have enjoyed before: unfettered access to the White House and Lincoln Memorial to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access,” the lawsuit reads. “The UFC is not being coy about the event’s pecuniary nature. One executive recently called it ‘the greatest earned-marketing tool of all time.’ And he is far from the only one salivating at the business upside.”
The event is scheduled for June 14, which is Trump’s 80th birthday. It has been publicly promoted as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary, which falls on July 4. Dana White, CEO of the UFC, has described the timing as a “coincidence,” the lawsuit notes.
The lawsuit argues that Trump personally stands to benefit financially from the event. In May, it was reported that the president purchased up to $50,000 in stock of TKO Group Holdings, which owns the UFC and WWE. The lawsuit also alleges that the UFC is selling VIP packages for between $1 million and $1.5 million, and that those not in attendance can watch the event only by paying $8.99 plus tax for a Paramount+ subscription. Larry Ellison is the majority owner of Paramount Skydance Corporation; his son David Ellison serves as its CEO and board chair.
The two plaintiffs in the case are Paul Romano, a retired Air Force sergeant and Vietnam veteran, and Susan Douglas, a senior citizen activist and organizer. In a statement, Romano said the use of the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop for a for-profit sports event dishonors those who served.
“The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground, and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform,” Romano said. “Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration.”
The lawsuit seeks a court order blocking the event from proceeding on June 14. The White House and the UFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.