Trump Administration Fights to Keep UFC Event on White House Lawn

The administration petitioned U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to dismiss the lawsuit, asserting that the event is lawful and that the plaintiffs filed their grievance too late to warrant a temporary restraining order. While the challengers contend that hosting a combat sports event at a public monument sets a dangerous precedent, government lawyers point to a history of public gatherings as justification for the June 14 spectacle. The controversy extends beyond the South Lawn, as the White House’s proposal to hold athlete weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial has deepened the divide over the appropriate use of federal grounds for private commercial promotion.