A federal judge in the United States has declined to halt the White House’s plans to host a UFC event on the South Lawn this weekend in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The decision came after District Judge Amit Mehta dismissed a lawsuit filed by two Virginia residents on June 6, who claimed that the Trump administration exceeded its authority by choosing the White House lawn as the venue for the upcoming UFC mixed martial arts event on Sunday.
Judge Mehta determined that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the event and failed to demonstrate that they would face irreparable harm if the event proceeded as scheduled. He also criticized the plaintiffs for delaying their legal action against the event, which had been in the planning stages for several months.
“In the context of an emergency application, and considering that the UFC fight date had been known well in advance, the plaintiffs’ delay in filing suit was unreasonable, weakening their arguments of suffering irreparable harm,” Judge Mehta stated.
This development marks a significant ruling in the ongoing dispute over the White House’s use of its premises for public events.
