A legal fight over the UFC’s highly publicized White House event is heating up just days before the first punch is scheduled to be thrown. The Donald Trump administration has now officially responded to a lawsuit seeking to block UFC Freedom 250. They argued that critics waited far too long to challenge an event that has been in the works for months.
What started as a dispute over a cage fight has quickly evolved into a larger debate about public property, government resources, and presidential priorities.
What the Trump administration said in the UFC Freedom 250 lawsuit response
The lawsuit was filed by Virginia residents Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, asks a federal court to stop UFC Freedom 250 from taking place on the White House South Lawn. The plaintiffs have described the event as a “deeply corrupt” use of historic public property for private gain.
However, attorneys representing the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior aren’t buying that argument.
As per TMZ, in a court filing submitted this week, government lawyers focused heavily on timing, noting that plans for the event have been public for nearly a year. According to the administration, the White House confirmed dates months ago, and site preparations have been visible for weeks.
The response argues that granting an emergency injunction now would create massive disruption. Officials claim more than $60 million has already been invested in planning and infrastructure, along with tens of thousands of labor hours involving multiple federal agencies.
The filing also paints a picture of a major public event. According to court documents, more than 4,000 spectators are expected on the White House grounds, including over 1,000 military members. Another 120,000 visitors are expected to gather nearby after obtaining free tickets through a lottery system.
Government attorneys further argued that the plaintiffs are actively seeking out the event despite claiming it causes them harm.
The administration also pushed back against criticism that the UFC is solely benefiting from the production. Officials stated that several federal agencies, including the Secret Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security, have been involved in organizing the event alongside UFC leadership.
The spectacle is expected to feature seven fights and coincides with broader Freedom 250 celebrations.
TELL US – SHOULD UFC FREEDOM 250 BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE ON THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS?
Originally reported by Vanshika Vasundhare Singh on Mandatory
