American citizens filed a lawsuit this weekend to prevent President Donald Trump from celebrating his birthday with UFC mixed martial arts bouts at the White House, branding the event “a corrupt scheme.” According to the legal action, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights are already scheduled for June 14, the day Trump turns 80, at the official presidential residence of the United States.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., by a Vietnam War veteran and an activist, argues that the event violates federal law by using public resources to generate profits for a commercial sports promoter, stated the Public Integrity Project, the organization representing the plaintiffs.
It is further alleged that Trump and UFC President Dana White will financially profit from the matches. The lawsuit claims that the President purchased 50,000 dollars (approximately 43,000 euros) in shares of the company managing the league, while the organization is selling VIP packages priced at 1.5 million dollars (1.3 million euros) for those wishing to attend the fights.
Additionally, the lawsuit argues that the metal structure installed at the White House for the UFC bouts violates National Park Service (NPS) regulations, which require congressional approval due to its location on federal parkland. It also claims that subsequent repairs to the lawn will cost at least 700,000 dollars (about 600,000 euros).
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The plaintiffs, both from the state of Virginia, are retired Sergeant Paul Romano, a Vietnam veteran from Springfield, and activist Susan Douglas from Alexandria. They state that their goal is to “preserve the monumental spaces of Washington.”
“This is a deeply corrupt scheme to enrich the President and his friends. If this fight is allowed to take place, it will only be the beginning, and our national monuments will become branding opportunities for the wealthy,” argued Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project, in an official statement.
Donald Trump announced last October that he would host a mixed martial arts event as part of his birthday celebrations and to kick off the commemorations for the 250th anniversary of United States independence. Prior to his entry into politics, Trump promoted boxing matches in New York during the 1980s and 1990s.
The current American head of state also maintains a long-standing relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the largest professional wrestling promotion company in the United States, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2013.
