A Vietnam War veteran and a woman filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC, to prevent the UFC fights that President Donald Trump has scheduled at the White House to celebrate his birthdayon June 14, considering them a “corrupt scheme.”
The lawsuit argues that the event violates federal law by using public resources for a sports promoter to make a profit, reported the Public Integrity Project, an association that represents the plaintiffs.
The complaint also claims that Trump and Dana White, head of the UFC, will profit from the fights. According to the complaint, the American president bought US$50 thousand in shares of the company that manages the league, and the company sells VIP packages for US$1.5 million to attend the fight.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs point out that the metal structure installed in the White House for the fighting violates the regulations of the National Park Service, which required congressional approval because it is located in a federal park, and will cost at least US$700,000 in repairs to the garden.
The plaintiffs, residents of Virginia, are retired Sergeant Paul Romano, a Vietnam veteran, and activist Susan Douglas, who say they seek “preserve Washington’s monumental spaces”.
“This is a deeply corrupt scheme to enrich the president and his friends. “If this fight is allowed to proceed, it will be just the beginning, and our national monuments will become branding opportunities for the wealthy,” said Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project, in a statement.
Last-minute lawsuit seeks to put kibosh on ‘corrupt scheme’ UFC White House event https://t.co/755QlM2IJ8
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 7, 2026
Trump announced since October 2025 that he would organize a mixed martial arts event as part of his birthday and the beginning of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Before entering politics, Trump promoted boxing matches in New York during the 1980s and 1990s. He also had a long relationship with WWE, the main wrestling company in the United States, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2013.