A federal lawsuit filed Saturday seeks to shut down an Ultimate Fighting Championship event planned for the White House on June 14, arguing the administration has violated multiple laws to host what the challengers call a "deeply corrupt" private sporting venture disguised as a patriotic celebration.
Public Integrity Project, a watchdog group, asked a DC federal court for an emergency injunction to halt UFC Freedom 250 before the event takes place on the president's 80th birthday, which coincides with Flag Day. The lawsuit names the National Park Service and Department of the Interior as defendants.
The crux of the legal challenge centers on a National Park Service temporary rule that lets the agency skip normal permitting procedures for events tied to the 250th anniversary of US independence, provided they are "planned, organized and executed" by the federal government. The watchdog argues UFC Freedom 250 does not meet that standard, pointing out that UFC President Dana White has admitted the event was Trump's idea. The lawsuit describes it as "a celebration of the UFC's brand and the 80th anniversary of Donald Trump's birth."
The White House is bracing for roughly 4,300 military personnel to attend. Dana White reportedly extended personal invitations to a roster of celebrities including Dwayne Johnson, Adam Sandler and Jared Leto, nearly all of whom have declined. Despite the high-profile snubs, the event remains highly sought after by Washington's donor class, lobbyists and members of Congress vying for tickets.
In other Monday developments, Trump nominated his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general. Blanche has been serving in an acting capacity since April, when Trump removed Pam Bondi from the role. Trump told a podcast earlier in the week that Blanche is "a very talented guy" before the formal nomination was announced.
A federal judge in Boston ruled that Trump's $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications is unlawful, invalidating the charge as an unconstitutional tax that violated federal administrative law. US District Judge Leo Sorokin issued the 42-page decision in a lawsuit brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenging the fee Trump announced in September. The charge represented a 20-to-50 fold increase over existing rates. The Trump administration is expected to appeal.
The Kennedy Center removed Trump's name from its website Monday, complying with a federal judge's order from last month. The action came days before a June 12 deadline set by the center's general counsel to eliminate all references to the president.
Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, renewed threats Monday to flood New York City with immigration agents. He said he has reviewed plans to expand ICE operations in the city and deploy "more ICE agents than you've ever seen" there as the administration continues its aggressive immigration enforcement push.
Trump also pushed back against the suggestion that he promised to avoid drawing the United States into war, denying he ever made such a guarantee. His response during a recent Meet the Press interview contradicts years of public statements in which he pledged to keep the country out of military conflicts.
Author James Rodriguez: "The UFC birthday party lawsuit captures everything wrong with how power operates in the capital these days, but whether a judge will actually stop the event remains an open question."
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