U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled on June 12, 2026, that plaintiffs lacked standing and had unreasonably delayed filing suit, allowing the UFC Freedom 250 event to proceed on the White House South Lawn as scheduled. The decision followed construction of a 92-foot steel structure known as The Claw that began around May 20, 2026. Multiple outlets confirm the event date aligns with the nation’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 80th birthday.