The Trump administration disclosed in a Tuesday court filing that the Ultimate Fighting Championship event scheduled for Sunday on the White House South Lawn has cost more than $60 million, with food, an octagon cage and 494 portable toilets among the expenses. The filing was submitted in response to a June 6 lawsuit filed by the Public Integrity Project seeking to block the event.
The event is being held to mark President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, Flag Day and the country’s approaching 250th birthday on July 4. About 4,000 spectators are expected on the South Lawn, including more than 1,000 members of the armed services, according to the government’s filing. An additional 120,000 visitors are expected to watch from the nearby Ellipse after winning free tickets in a lottery, and about 75,000 people requested tickets in total.
“In preparation, well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended,” the filing stated. “Many of the event’s attendees will visit from outside the capital region, and have already invested personal resources in lodging, air transportation and other arrangements.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of plaintiffs Paul Romano, a retired Air Force sergeant and Vietnam veteran, and Susan Douglas, a senior citizen activist and organizer, alleges that the event violates National Park Service regulations and ignores congressional authority. It further claims the event is designed to benefit Trump and his friends. UFC CEO Dana White supported Trump during his presidential campaign.
The president earlier bought up to $50,000 in stock of TKO, the parent company of the UFC and WWE, according to reports from May. The Trump administration is also planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with UFC at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday to create a public-private partnership.
White House management and administration director Joshua Fisher said in a sworn declaration that the event was “a highly complex, multi-faceted event that has been carefully planned by a multitude of public and private entities over a significant period.” He said the UFC manages “production, labor, construction, and promotion costs,” while the federal government provides “emergency equipment and services, including first aid/medical services, law enforcement, and security.”
TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro told The Hollywood Reporter that the company views the event as a strategic investment. “We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary,” Shapiro said. “This is an investment for the long term. This is about earned media. We see this once-in-a-lifetime stage as a strategic investment to drive subscriber acquisition at Paramount+, massive audience sampling for the UFC overall and Super Bowl-like earned media across the globe.”
The only way to watch the event is through a Paramount+ subscription.
The Fan Fest and ceremonial weigh-in will be held at the Ellipse, while the main fights take place on the South Lawn. Fourteen athletes are scheduled to compete, including in two world championship bouts.