UMVA has learned that the Trump administration is pushing back against critics of the planned White House UFC fight, arguing that opponents can simply avoid the event rather than seeking to block it through a last-minute lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents, aims to stop the UFC match from taking place on the South Lawn of the White House, citing concerns over federal permitting rules and environmental reviews. However, Department of Justice attorneys have urged a federal court to reject the plaintiffs' bid, describing the lawsuit as "obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory."
According to information obtained by UMVA, preparations for the UFC match have been underway for weeks, including the installation of a 90-foot-tall steel arch, dubbed the "claw." The event is expected to attract 4,000 spectators to the White House, and the government has argued that it has been planned for months, with over $60 million already spent and attendees having made travel plans.
The White House has described the event as a historic sporting occasion that will be a major celebration during the country's semiquincentennial. A White House official told UMVA that the event is no different from other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and that it has been properly permitted.
Plaintiffs have argued that the event will interfere with the White House and National Mall area, describing its setup as "hideous" and claiming that organizers ignored federal permitting rules and skipped environmental reviews. However, DOJ attorneys have countered that the plaintiffs' opinions are not "superior" to those who support the match and that they can simply avoid watching the fight if they object to it.
The government has emphasized that the event has been planned for months, with President Trump first announcing the match in July 2025. The plaintiffs must respond with their final brief by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, and a federal judge will ultimately decide whether to grant an emergency injunction to block the event.
