A federal judge ruled on Friday that the White House may host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the South Lawn this weekend. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected a lawsuit filed by two Virginia residents who sought to block the event, alleging that the Trump administration’s authorization was unlawful. The plaintiffs argued the event violated National Park Service regulations, lacked a necessary environmental review, and was improperly permitted. Judge Mehta determined the plaintiffs failed to establish a substantial likelihood of standing or irreparable harm. The court found that neither plaintiff demonstrated they were “directly affected” by the event, despite their claims that the temporary arena, known as the “Claw,” was “hideous” and “grotesque.” The lawsuit cited reasons for personal injury including planned attendance at weekend protests and road closures, but the judge picked apart these efforts to establish standing. Also, the judge noted an “unreasonable delay” in filing the suit and agreed with the government that a last-minute cancellation would cause “substantial harm” due to the planning, costs, and labor involved. The Department of Justice defended the authorization as lawful, comparing the event to other South Lawn activities such as the Easter Egg Roll and state dinners. DOJ lawyers characterized the lawsuit as an attempt to exercise a “heckler’s veto.” Conversely, lawyers with the Public Integrity Project described the event as a “corrupt spectacle” in a court filing. The UFC Freedom 250 event marks the nation’s 250th anniversary and coincides with President Trump’s 80th birthday. The event features a main card fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship, with 5,000 guests expected on the South Lawn. The event is part of a series of celebrations planned by a Trump-aligned organization.